"مجموعة من المعاهدات والالتزامات والسندات المتعلقة بالهند والدول المجاورة" [‎١‎٩] (٥٧٨/٣٦)

Persia. 19
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In 1913 a Protocol (No. XXIII) relating to the Turco-Persian
frontier was signed by the representatives of Great Britain, Russia,
Persia arid Turkey: and in 1914 the frontier was delimited by a com
mission which included representatives of the four countries. The com
mission completed its proceedings shortly before the entry of Tur
key into the Great War. Since the War, however, the Turks have
occupied a strip of territory on the Persian north-west frontier which
the Persians claim under the ruling of the Frontier Commission.
An Agreement providing for the appointment of a mixed Commission
to revise on the spot the frontier at Kotaur and certain other disputed
points; and for the establishment of a Permanent Mixed Frontier Com
mission, and general collaboration between the respective frontier officials
was signed on 9th April 1929; but the actual delimitation of the frontier
at the points in dispute is still unfinished (1930).
The Anglo-Russian Convention had caused great resentment through
out the country: and the outbreak of the Great War found Persia in a
hostile mood towards both Russia and Great Britain. This feeling
was intensified when, in order to forestall a Russian plan to make
Northern Persia a base of operations against Turkey, Turkish forces were
obliged to violate Persian neutrality. By the beginning of 1915 the
Turkish troops had reached Tabriz and devastated the rich districts
around TJrumia. Increasing unrest and anarchy followed throughout the
country, where German and Austrian influences were soon at work. In
July 1915 Herr Wassmuss was able to organise a tribal attack on Bushire,
necessitating its occupation by British troops. The Allied Consuls and
colonies were forced to evacuate Kermanshah in April 1915, and Isfahan
in September 1915 : and the situation in the Capital itself was only re
trieved by the landing of a large Russian force at Enzeli and their
advance to within a few miles of Tehran. The Persian nationalists
thereupon escaped to Rum, and it was with difficulty that the Shah was
prevented from following them. Meanwhile the whole of Southern Per
sia had risen in support of the Central Powers : and by the end of 1915
British Consuls and colonies remained only in Bushire and Southern
Arabistan. In 191G the position was redeemed to some extent by the
advance of Russian troops towards Kermanshah, and by the recruitment
in the South of local levies which eventually became the South Persia
Rifles. By 1917 the Russians had reached Isfahan, and the South
Persia Rifles had occupied Shiraz. In March the fall of Baghdad
caused the Turkish forces to melt away; but the ensuing revolution in
Russia flung the whole responsibility for maintaining order in Persia
upon the British forces. The situation was at the same time compli*
cated by the creation of an organisation in Tehran under the title of
“ The Committee of Punishment ”, and the consequent hesitation of
any Anglophil politician to accept the dangers of office. By the end of