File 3939/1926 Pt 5 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties: Persia, Seistan, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan' [‎28v] (50/558)

10
PERSIA.
check the raiders, she notified the Russian Government that their help
was no longer required. A Russian squadron was nevertheless sent i n
1842 to the Island of Ashurada, which had been occupied by the Russians
in 1838 A naval station was built there to overawe the 1 urkmans,
and the island has since remained in the possession of Russia.
The reconquest of Afghanistan h^d always been a favourite dream
of the Kajar dynasty, who conceived that their rights of sovereignty over
it were as complete as in the days of the Safavian kings. The first use
which the Russians made of their ascendancy alter the peace of 1828
was to encourage Fateh Ali Shah in his ambition for eastern conquests,
as an off-set for the cessions on his north-western trontier and as an
indirect means of establishing their own influence as far as the Indus.
Fateh Ali Shah projected two unsuccessful expeditions against
Afghanistan.
Muhammad Shah, ever a friend of Russia and an enemy to British
interests, revived the project and with a large force laid siege to Herat
in November 1837. He had been warned that any hostile movement
against Herat would be viewed with dissatisfaction by the British Gov-
O '
ernment. Confident, however, in the support of Russia, he rejected all
offers for the settlement of his disputes with Shah Kamran pf Herat by
friendly mediation, and treated the British mission with such marked
discourtesy, that the Envoy lowered his flag and declared the alliance
with Persia at an end. To force the Shah to renounce his ambitious pro
jects, a demonstration was made in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by the occppation
of the island of Karak. This had the effect of forcing him to withdraw
his troops from Herat after a memorable siege of ten months, in which
all his efforts to take the city were defeated by the energy and ability of
Eldred Pottinger, a young English officer of artillery. On the with
drawal of the British armies from Afghanistan, Shah Kamran was
deposed and murdered by his minister, Yar Muhammad Khan, who in
words professed himself to be a dependent of the Shah of Persia, but
maintained himself in real independence.
In 1839 a Farman (^io. XI) was procured from the Shah guaranteeing
protection to Mission servants. This had been rendered necessary by
the anest and search of a Legation messenger travelling between Herat
and the Shah s camp. This farman was supplemented by another
(No. XII) for the same purpose in the following year.
.... - \ J wuuiuuub oi Dmisn trade in Persia were at li
remedied m 1841 by the conclusion of a Commercial Treaty (No. XU
T lC e * ra e Creat Britain and Persia on most favoured nati
looting, and provided for the establishment of commercial agencies
he two countries. In 1844 a Farman (No. XIV) prescribed the procedn