'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎15v] (30/344)

10
Part I—Chap. IV.
25. "With a view to check the French intrigues in Persia, the Home
Government in London decided in February 1807 to depute Sir Harford
Jones, formerly Resident at Bagdhad, on a mission to the Shah of Persia. It
was intended that he should proceed to Persia by way of Russia, but when
preparations were being made for this journey and his departure was con
stantly put off, the Treaty of Tilsit was concluded between Russia and France;
and thus the Russian route became practically closed to the British Envoy.
Sir Harford Jones had then to choose the Cape course and he left Portsmouth
in October 1807 on the sloop Sap hire with the following gentlemen in his
staff :—
Mr. James Morier, Private Secretary; Major Lovet Smith, Public Secretary, and others -
26. The Saphire arrived at Bombay only on 26th April 1808, when Bri
gadier General Malcolm, who on account of the delay that had taken place in
Sir Harford Jones' arrival, had been appointed by Lord Minto his Envoy to the
Court of Persia and had just sailed in the Fsyche to the Gulf. Sir Harford
Jones decided to await at Bombay the result of Malcolm's Mission before
proceeding further.
27. Lord Minto had furnished Brigadier-General Malcolm with
elaborate instructions dated the 7th March 1808, from which is quoted the
following extract bearing principally on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Sir Harford
Jones' concurrent mission.
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Secret and Poll. 19. A future object of importance to obtain from Persia is the exclusion of the French
Dept. Diary 2 63 f r om an establishment in any of the ports or islands in the Persian Gulph subject to the
6194 808, ^ " au thority of that Government, or from any commercial establishment within the limits of the
Persian Dominions. The official documents to which you will have access at Bombay will
apprize you of the progress which the French appear to have made in the attainment of both
those objects, as well as generally in the formation of a close connection and alliance with the
State of Persia, and this information will aid your judgment in devising the means best
calculated to counteract them.
20. Government is desirous also of knowing your opinion with regard to the expediency
of undertaking at an early period an expedition on a small scale, for the purpose of preventing
the French from occupying a maritime station on the coast or of dislodging them if they
should already have obtained possession of such a post.
21. The mere grant of an establishment to the French within the territories of Persia, is
a direct violation of the Political Treaty concluded by your agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. with that Government,
and with reference to the declared views of France in soliciting such an establishment, is of
itself a justifiable ground of war with Persia; still more so is the tenor of the negotiations
which that Government is known to have entertained with the ambassadors from France.
You are aware however that the Court of Persia has interpreted that article of the Political
Treaty which declares in the general terms of cordial amity between States, the friend and
enemies of the one shall be the friends and enemies of the other, into an obligation of
defensive alliance, and has considered the refusal of this Government to co-operate against
the Russians to be a violation of that engagement. If circumstances should enable you to
proceed into Persia in the character of ambassador, you will probably have occasion to enter
into a discussion of this question and you will find no difficulty in proving to the satisfaction
of the Court that such could not have been the comprehensive intention of that article and
especially that this Government could not poseess the authority, and consequently could not
under any circumstances entertain the design, to employ its arms against a firm and ancient
ally of the British nation, and this explanation may possibly be of use in securing the full
reliance of the Court of Persia on the punctual fulfilment of any defensive engagement
which under that conviction the Court may be disposed and circumstances may enable you
to conclude. It may be of use also in demonstrating the just ground of complaint which this
Government possesses against the conduct of Persia and afford to you in your negotiation the
advantage of that superiority which will arise from being enabled to give to the purpose of
your mission the character of remonstrance and demand rather than of submission and
solicitation.
22. You will consider yourself at liberty, at any time when you may judge proper, to
avow your diplomatic mission to Persia and to present your credential provided that
Sir Harford Jones shall not have arrived, or that circumstances shall admit of the exercise of
your diplomatic functions notwithstanding his arrival, in the manner indicated in a subsequent
part of this despatch.
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81, If Sir Hartford Jones should have arrived before you in the Persian Gulph or
should arrive soon after you, it will be advisable that you should sound him on the question of