"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٣‎٩‎٣] (١٧٨٢/٥٣٦)

393
for six years. Prom 1 1899 to 1901 the functions of Military Attach^ and
Oriental Secretary in the Legation were combined in a British officer of
the Indian Army ; but after 1901 the Military Attacheship was the only
post at Tehran filled by an officer from India.
tc*
liW
Conclusion.
to resume. An attack on the political predominance of Britain in the
Persian Gulf may be considered to have begun with the first visit of a
Russian surveyor to Hormuz in 1895, but it did not become serious until
1899, when the French sought to secure a naval base in 'Oman. A great
impetus was given to foreign activity by the South African war of 1899
1902, especially in its earlier stages, when a false appreciation of Britain s
future place in the world became current. Those years accordingly
witnessed preparations by Russia for establishing a naval station in the
Persian Gulf and for constructing a railway across Persia to the sea, as
tojll as the foundation of a Russian line of steamers and trading company
fbr operations in thie Gulf, and intensified efforts by France to push hei
influence in 'Oman. Unmistakable symptoms at the same time showed
that, in the Gulf, Russia and France were actuated to some extent by a
common policy. The more serious manifestations of foreign ambition
were accompanied by Russian and French displays of na\al force and we ^
attended by an increase of Russian consular representation in tht Gu
region. ,
As the British Empire gradually and without loss of stability emerged
from the South African difficulty, some revulsion of feeling and change o
policy on the part of foreign nations became perceptible. The more
dangerous enterprises of Russia were suspended, and e\ entually itt
remained to differentiate the situation in the Gulf fiom that w * c ^
existed before the crisis, except the mercantile undei taking to w ic
Russian Goveniinent had committed themselves and their inflated con u
estabhshments. By the end of 1903 political tension between European
nations in the Persian Gulf had entirely ceased.
The assault on British predominance was energetically met and repelled
at every point. Nothing was conceded even at the period when t e s a
of international politics Was most favourable to the adveisarie- 0 ^ *
and British activity continued unabated even after the causes which pro
voked it had been withdrawn. Effective diplomatic barriers were raised
against dangers from Russia which threatened in Peisia. Fienc in g