"مذكرة بشأن الحدود بين المحمرة وتركيا". [و‎‎٧] (٨٢/١٣)

9
memorandum on Mohammerah by Major Rawlin-
son; a general survey of the whole frontier
Canning No. 70, dispute by Sir Stratford Canning ; two despatches
April 27,1844. from Colonel Shell, British Minister at Tehran,
British Shel110 elucidating the question from the Persian aspect;
Commissioners certain Hussian memoirs ; and, finally, a despatch
recording the considered views and decision of
Colonel Sheil, Her Majesty's Government, after a very full
September 27 examination of all the arguments, and after con-
1843. sultation with the Russian Government.
Colonel Sheil, p r ^cis, which here largely consists of
May 14,1844. extracts from the first two documents, does not
Memorandum follow implicitly all the arguments advanced by
Count"nes^drode. Sir Stratford Canning regarding the ownership of
September 1844. Mohammerah, partly because there was a certain
McMnoramhiin,^ divergency between the conclusions first reached
Enclosure ill Excellency and those urged by Colonel
Sir Stratford
Canning's No. 240, Sheil; partly because his Excellency ultimately
November 2, 1844. 9( j m itted {pace Sir Henry Layard) that more
Lord Aberdeen to a e
Sir Stratford regard should be had to the factor ot presenp-
Canning, No. 5,^ tion, which militated against Turkey; and partly
January 7, 18io. .
because, on a review of the complete correspond
ence and at this distance of time, arguments
and data appear in a slightly altered focus.
If, however, as appears possible, the Mohammerah
question is again reopened, and especially if it is
brought before The Hague Tribunal, a more
detailed reference to the correspondence, which
is now being printed, will be required.
One of the points most warmly debated at the
Conference of Erzeroum was the question of right
to Mohammerah. That town had been attacked
and razed to the ground by the Pasha of Pagdad
in 1837, for the reason that it was becoming a
thriving commercial port, and bid fair to endanger
the trade of the neighbouring town of Bussorah.
This episode greatly embittered the relations of
Persia and Turkey : the former Power claimed an
indemnity of one million sterling on account of
property destroyed and the indignity suffered ; the
latter Power not only rebutted the claim for
indemnity, but put forward a counter-demand for
the ownership of Mohammerah and the surround
ing country, and to the allegiance of the resident
tribe.
Owing to this and other causes, a rupture
between the two Mussulman Powers appeared
imminent: it was in such circumstances that
Great Britain and Russia, more nearly interested
than any other European Powers in the mainte
nance of peace in the East, olfered to mediate,
[2i40 c—10] D