"مذكرة بشأن الحدود بين المحمرة وتركيا". [ظ‎‎١‎٧] (٨٢/٣٤)

28
Colonel Sheil, thou^li considering the argu
ments of the Persian Government to be in the
main well-founded, observed that, on the whole,
the advantage and justice of the decision of the
Mediating Commissioners seemed so obvious that
he had no hesitation in pressing its acceptance
on the Persian Government.
The Persian Government eventually accepted Colonel Sheil to
the delimitation of the frontier according to the
opinion of the Mediating Commissioners, but on
condition that the portion of the tribe of Chaab
to the west of their line of demarcation should
be transferred to Persia. That portion was by
the Persian Government estimated at 20,000
souls, and by Colonel Sheil at a smaller number.
With reference to this condition, Colonel Colonel Williams
Williams furnished some additional information ^ptel^ 1 ^ 1 ^ S l7^ ll,
as to the motives for the decision of the iSoO.
Mediating Commissioners ; and, inasmuch as the
lands in question lie between the 1850 line (that
of the Mediating Commissioners) and the
boundary as locally observed at the present time
(1912) I venture to quote the following passage :—
The decision we (the Mediating Commissioners)
came to on the point of departure from the Sbatt-el-
Arab was founded on a geographical point unknown to (^ ee map at p. 2o.)
those who framed the Treaty of Erzeroum (1848), and
which was clearly stated in the protocols drawn up at
Moharnmerah, viz., that the large channel on the west
side of the island, opposite to Sheikh Jabir s fort at
Failieh, marked in Colonel Chesney s maps as the
channel of navigation from the sea with Bussorah, is
now closed except to small boats, and that at the
present moment all the traders bound to Bussorah are
obliged to take the narrow channel to the east ot the
island in question, which forces them under the musketry
of the fort in question. If, therefore, we had gone up
the river twelve miles, the point to which individuals
of the Chaab tribe have crept (1 believe in very recent
times), we should have placed the port of Bussorah
at the mercy of this not very sciupulous Arab tribe,
and thus, in placing Persia in the possession of her
desired port and anchorage of Mohammerah, we should
have denied to the opposite party the same security for
its port and city of Bussorah.
I can see no reason why the Chaab about t ailieh
should not, if they like, rejoin their clan; for they do
not come under even doubtful allegiance, being a portion
of the Chaab or Persian tribe.
These reasons Colonel Sheil urged upon the Colonel^ Sheil,
Persian Government as conclusive | the equal December 18,
protection of access to Mohammerah and Bussorah 18o() -