'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎619] (710/748)

BKITISH AND RUSSIAN POLICY IN PERSIA 619
untilled field, whose features give promise of abundant return,
and in which successful experiments have already been made. If
moral progress is not yet to be expected from the people them
selves, material progress, instituted by others, may facilitate its
advent, and Persia may eventually be compelled to take an interest
in herself by observing the interest which others take in her.
If, then, 1 were asked what is the policy of Great Britain
towards Persia, I should answer in the following terms. It is
Policy of I10 ^ now 5 :nor any time in this century has it been, one
Great of territorial cupidity. England does not covet one
square foot of Persian soil. The eighth and tenth
Commandments stand in no danger of being violated by us. In
the war of 1856-7 British forces captured, and, for a short time,
held both Bushire and Kharak Island, in the Gulf, and Moham-
merah and Ahwaz on the Karun. It would have been easy to
establish a permanent foot-hold in the Gulf, and to have settled
the Karun question for all time by retaining these positions.
In the absence of any reason rendering such a step compulsory,
we gave them up. The Persians themselves, who had fully ex
pected at least to lose Bushire, were bewildered at our clemency,
and have come in time to believe that they ousted us by superior
force. But the action remains an indisputable evidence of pacific
purpose, and may appositely be contrasted with the Russian tactics
at Ashurada in the North. Of the true character of British policy
towards Persia a better description cannot be supplied than that
which was given by Lord Salisbury in his speech at the Guildhall
banquet to the Shah in July 1889 :—■-
We watch with intense interest and sympathy the policy which His
Majesty has inaugurated in Persia. We wish for it the greatest possible
development. We wish the highest possible stage of prosperity for him
self and his people. We hope that those communications with the outer
world which are the condition of prosperity in this age will increase
and multiply in his country ; and we desire above all things that Persia
shall not only be prosperous, but be strong—strong in her resources,
strong in her preparations, strong in her alliances—in order that she
may pursue the peaceful path on which she has entered in security and
tranquillity. And we entreat our illustrious guest to believe that in
seeking this commercial as well as political friendship we are asking
for no exclusive privileges for ourselves. ... We are urging upon
him no friendship with us that shall end in any of the exploits
or desires of aggression or of war. All that we desire are those