"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الجزء II. ج. ج. لوريمر. ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٧‎١‎٧] (١٢٦٢/٢٣٤)

1717
The British negotiations for the opening of the Karun to foreign Opening of
,n0 ^ trade remained in abeyance until 1888, when they were resuscitated and ^thecom-
' 0SS ^ successfully concluded by Sir H. Drummond Wolff, His .Britannic mercial navi-
Majesty 's Minister in Persia. nations^o'ct.
On the 18th September 1888 the British representative addressed a 1888 *
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note to the Shah^s Government, referring to previous encouraging
assurances, pointing out that Persia was as yet practically closed to the
trade of the world and that her northern communications with places
abroad were commanded by a single foreign power, and explaining that
the British Government claimed no exclusive privileges but only gave
well meant advice to Persia, whose integrity and independence they had
guaranteed; the note concluded: " Her Majesty's Government there
fore, as the friends and allies of Persia, have instructed me to enquire
when they may expect that the assurances and promises given may be
carried into effect, and they trust that the official answer they receive
may be in full accordance with those feelings of friendship and cordial
understanding between the two countries which it is the desire of Her
Majesty's Government to consolidate and maintain/''
It was found that the Shah was now disposed to throw the river open
.softk to general trade and saw only two difficulties in the way : the first was a
inthei promise that he had given in 1887 not to permit the construction of any
ifteral railway or waterway in Persia by a foreign company without first con-
;buttle: suiting the Emperor of Russia ; the second, a fear that foreign Govern-
eforw ments might erect forts on the Karun or make use of the river for
military purposes. The first of these was removed by the argument
that the opening of the Karun was a national measure, not a
concession to any foreign company; the other by pointing out that
theft ^ )ers ^ an Government had it in their power to prohibit by regulations
[ \ (>y tlie er ? ctl0n of fortSj tlie importation of arms, and other dangerous
^ operations by foreigners.
f^Di P tlie Shah, decided to accede to the wishes of the British
e ^ overnment on condition of receiving two steamers as a gift, besides
fc e 1 ftome assurance of protection against Eussia in case the opening of the
S ^ 0U ^ resen ^ e d by that power. These terms having been
^ iiii ^ CCe ^ e( ^ ^ was i n timated to His Britannic Majesty's Minister on the
jr to , th^ October 1888 that the Persian Government had sanctioned the
u spw c opening of the river below Ahwaz to foreign shipping and trade, reserv-
)eS i ^-Hil ^ ssue re g u l a tions for navigation and to levy tolls; that a
Tt J 01 - W ! :iee ^ e( * tra ® c f rom Dizful to Ispahan or Qum would be com-
P e e within three years; and that a tramway round the Ahwaz rapids
—,0
as