"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٢‎٣‎١] (١٧٨٢/٣٧٤)

231
a small demonsfcration by British armed vessels in the Persian Gulf and
Shatt-al-'Arab at the beginning of 1854 availed to keep peace unbroken
between the two Muhammadan powers. Among the European nations
engaged in the Crimean struggle war continued until 1856.
Meanwhile, chiefly ia consequence of a revived ambition on the part of The Herat
Persia to annex Herat,—an ambition the realisation of which was still l^stwn and
regarded by British statesmen as likely to be injurious to British Indian tes between
interests, the relations of the British and Persian Governments were Per^ aU<i
deteriorating. In 1852 Persia occupied Herat; but in 1853 she was 1852-56.
induced by Britain, not without difficulty, to sign an Agreement relinquish
ing Herat and undertaking not to interfere with it in future.
In 1854-55 the conduct of the Persian Government towards the
British Minister at Tehran.perhaps in consequence of an idea that Britain
was too much hampered ly the Crimean war to resent it, was extremely
insulting; and at the end cf 1855 the British diplomatic representative
was withdrawn from P;rsia. In 1856, presuming probably on the
absence of the British Mission and on the supposed difficulties of Britain
in Europe, the Persians again occupied Herat.
A short but decisive war followed, in which Persia was quickly Anglo-Per-
beaten to her knees. Ihe attitude of the Turks, who perhaps hoped ^ian TVar^and
that :one result mignt be the transfer of Muhammareh to themselves. Peace, 1856-
was neutral, but berevolent towards Britain; and it was noticed that the 67 '
issue of the operations had a salutary effect in Turkish 'Iraq, where it
inspired additional respect for the British name. The war was ended
by a Treaty by which Persia recognised the independence of Afghanistan,
and in particular of the iierat province, and bound herself to submit
any future differences which she might have with the ruler of Herat
to British mediation. All other questions pending between the British
and Persian Governments were settled also, in principle or in detail, by
the Treaty.
At this point occurred the great Indian Mutiny of 1857-58; but, The Indiaii
except in a very rapid withdrawal of the Persian Pield Force to India Mutiny,
1857-58
after its work was done, no effect of the M utiny was perceptible in the
Persian Gulf.
French activity in the Persian Gulf region, 1836-61.
The only European power besides Britain and Russia which during
thie period displayed any interest in the countries of the Persian
Gulf was France, and her activity was superficial and mostly confined
to the years 1839-48.