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Printed copies of letters from Sir Henry Willock to successive British Foreign Secretaries discussing the situation in Persia. [4v] (8/14)
The record is made up of 1 file (7 folios). It was created in 01 Dec 1838-04 Sep 1841. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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( 8 )
Little Campden House,
Kensington, September 4, 1841.
M y L ord,
As an old servant of the Crown, T have from time to time submitted to
the Secretary ot State for Foreign Affairs such remarks on passing events in Persia and
Central Asia as my experience in that quarter of the globe may have suggested.
In pursuance of the same course T now solicit Your Lordship's attention to the accom
panying Memorandum.
I have the honor to be,
&c., &c., &c.,
(Signed) HENRY W1LLOCK.
The Right Hon'ble
THE EAUL OF ABERDEEN,
The Secretary op State,
Foreign Department.
Memorandum.
The present state of the British Empire in India, the false position we are placed in on
the "West of the Indus, and the financial embarrassment which has resulted from the expedi
tion to Afghanistan, are matters of so important and pressing a nature, as to force themselves
on the immediate consideration of Her Majesty's Government.
In order that it may not be supposed that the opinions here put forth have been formed
since the aspect of affairs to the North West of India has become gloomy, I append a letter
addressed by me to \ iscount Palmerston of the 1st December, 1838, which recommended
the maintenance of the Persian alliance and the abandonment of the projected subjection
of Afghanistan, a measure at that moment no longer called for, which might with honor and
advantage have been relinquished, for the Persian Army had retreated from Herat; the
Emperor of Russia had disavowed the offensive acts of his Agents, and Afghanistan was left in
the best possible position as regarded our interests, in a disunited state ; but still the hand of
authority preserved the maintenance of tranquillity under the several Chieftains presiding at
Cabul, Ghizni, Candahar, and Herat, each exercising almost independent sway.
The retreat of the British Envoy from the Court of Tehran induced me again to address
Viscount Palrnerston on the ^th of February, 1839, and I have since continuously committed
my remarks on the passing events, and on our future prospects in Central Asia, in private
communication to the Right Hon'ble Henry Ellis, a gentleman of acknowledged ability,
whose experience in Asia, and whose sound and enlightened views, render his opinions on
these matters of the greatest weight.
In entering on a review of the project of placing Shah Shuja on the throne of Cabul,
I necessarily place myself in opposition to the opinions of Lord Auckland, which is a matter
of regret to me, respecting as I do the exalted bearing of His Lordship in the performance of
the highly important duties committed to his charge; yet as this expedition forms the
leading feature of His Lordship's administration ; and as His Lordship has declared to the
world that the projeet was of his own creation, he has taken upon himself the responsibility
of the measure, whether of good or evil result.
I must here remark that so high a sense was entertained of His Lordship's assiduity,
impartiality, an i soundness of judgment in the internal administration of the affairs of India by
the Directors of the Last India Company, that even those Members of it, who disapproved
About this item
- Content
The printed copies of the letters have been brought together as a booklet giving Sir Henry Willock's thoughts on the situation in Persia from December 1838 to September 1841. Sir Henry Willock had spent 23 years in Persia, 11 of which had been spent superintending British relations with the Court of Persia. The letters that comprise the booklet are as follows:
- Letter to The Right Honorable The Lord Viscount Palmerston, 01 December 1838, outlining the background politics in Persia and in particular with regards to the Kings Of Persias ambitions over the last 30 years to conquer Herat, the view the British Government had taken to such attempts and amibitions in the past and the views of the Sovereign who had mostly recently attempted to annex it. The letter goes on to discuss the line of policy which should now be applied to Persia, particularly in light of the British Government's occupation of the island of Karrack, and Sir Henry Willock's belief that the British now needed to regain the confidence of Persia and should unconditionally retreat from the island. The letter also discusses Russia current aims and intentions with regards to Afghanistan, its own empire, trade with India and the need for the British to check its progress. There is also speculation by Sir Henry as to the British Government's intentions of removing Dost Mohammad Khan from power owing to his decision to ally with the Persians in order to remove a rival from power; thoughts on the difficulties of marching Indian troops through Afghanistan and his opinions on the Shah's rival Runjeet Singh and his conclusions that the safest move for Great Britain is to adhere to its alliance with Persia.
- Memorandum to The Right Honourable Viscount Palmerston, Secretary of State, 4 Feburary 1839 offering his opinions on the effects that the British Mission leaving the Court of Persia would have. The memorandum focuses on the disadvantages of this action including leaving Persia open to occupation by Russia; enabling the Shah to occupy Herat; damaging commercial relations between the two countries; the likelihood of Persia discovering Britain does not have the means to cause injury and cautioning that invasion of Persia would be impractical owing to the difficulty in traversing the passes into the country.
- Memorandum to The Right Honourable The Earl of Aberdeen, Secretary of State, 04 September 1841 regarding his recommendations from 1838 to Viscount Palmerston of maintaining the Persian alliance and abandoning the subjection of Aghanistan and his letter of 1839 following the withdrawal of the British Mission from the Court of Persia and other private remarks since which he has made to the Right Honorable Henry Ellis. The memorandum outlines Willock's opposition to the opinions of Lord Auckland and the intention to place Shah Shuja on the throne at Cabul; his dislike of the news that a secret committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. had taken this decision without consulting the East India Company Board of Directors and his belief that the British's best approach in Persia is to avoid collision and to avoid recommendations eminating from the Court of St. Petersburgh. Willock goes on to consider the benefits of a neutral Afghanistan permitted to remain independent which he views as having been the best solution that the British Government threw out; comparing the British position in Afghanistan to the French position in Algeria; considering the potential threats to Punjab of viewing Herat as an enemy; the risk of war with Russia; the need to ensure secession is not regarded as an evil of great magnitude; financial difficulties in India; the cost of war in Afghanistan and the need to retreat from the island of Karrack if friendly relations with Persia are to be restored. Towards the end of the memorandum Willock diverges from Persia to discuss the port of Aden which he believes is only useful as a coal depot and that it should be given up as a way of saving money.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (7 folios)
- Arrangement
The copies of letters have been printed in the booklet in date order.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The file has been foliated in the front top right hand corner of each folio with a pencil number enclosed with a circle.
The file also contains original pagination 2-13 which starts on the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of the first folio and concludes on the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of the final folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Printed copies of letters from Sir Henry Willock to successive British Foreign Secretaries discussing the situation in Persia. [4v] (8/14), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/18, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023190383.0x000009> [accessed 12 January 2025]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/18
- Title
- Printed copies of letters from Sir Henry Willock to successive British Foreign Secretaries discussing the situation in Persia.
- Pages
- 1r:7v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence