"مذكرة بشأن الحدود بين المحمرة وتركيا". [و‎‎٢‎٩] (٨٢/٥٧)

APPENDIX (A).
British Assurances given io the Sheikh of Mohmhmerah, 3899 and 1902-10.
IN November 1899, when Sir H. M. Durand, Her Majesty's Minister at Tehran,
visited the Kamn, the Sheikh of Mohammerah, who had been anxious to obtain
guarantees relative to the independence of his territories in certain eventualities,
submitted a request for assurances. Sir H. M. Durand thereupon instructed Colonel
Meade, British Resident in the Persian Gulf, to make a communication to him to the
effect that—
we cannot, of course, undertake to maintain tlie sheikh against the Persian Government, nor
can we say that, if the Persian Government breaks up, we can guarantee his independence. Our
Government does not, I imagine, contemplate such a contingency. But we can tell him that we
consider him the most influential person in this part of the world, and we intend as far as possible
to support him, believing that it is for the interest of the country that he should be strong. If
ever he wants our advice we will give it. In return we expect he will help us in matters of trade
and the like.
As to the Customs withdrawal from Mohammerah, I will do all I can to help him. He may
rely upon our good-will at all times, and upon our help whenever we can give it without ill-faith
to the Persian Government.*
Cn the 7th December, 1902, Sir A. Hardinge, the British Minister at Tehran,
addressed a letter to the Sheikh of Mohammerah, in the course of which he stated that
the British Government had authorised him lo say that—
we shall protect Mohammerah against naval attack by a foreign Power, whatever pretext for
such action may be alleged, and also, so long as you remain faithful to the Shah and act in
accordance with our advice, shall continue to give you our good offices and support.
The full text of this note is as follows :—
Sir A. Hardinge to the Sheikh of Mohammerah.
(After compliments.) December 7, 1902.
I write to inform you, my honoured friend, of my return to Tehran from Europe and to
enquire after your health.
It was a great disappointment to me that I was unable to visit you this spring, but, as you
know, I was obliged to go to England instead. I hope, however, that it may be possible for me
at no distant date to have the pleasure of making your personal acquaintance.
T was very glad to hear from Hajji Reis-ut-Tujjar of the satisfactory arrangement concluded
between you and the Department of Customs. On general grounds of policy it is very desirable
that differences should as far as possible be avoided between the Persian authorities and the Arab
tribes under your rule. The relations between the British and Persian Governments are ot a
friendly character, and the preservation of the integrity and independence ot the Persian
monarchy has for many years been one of the great objects of British policy in this part of the
world. Disturbances of a nature to imperil that object would be a serious evil, and you would
gain little and might endanger much by throwing off the sovereignty of the Shah. I am
convinced that, under present circumstances, the Arabs, and yourself as their ruler, have every
interest in cultivating good and loyal relations with the Government of Tehran, and that the
latter has no desire to oppress you or curtail your authority. For this reason 1 think you acted
wisely in giving up all idea of forcible resistance to the establishment of a custom-house, and in
seeking rather to come, as I have from the first urged you to do, to a Iriendly understanding on
the subject with the Customs Administration.
Hajji Reis-ut-Tujjar asked me on your behalf to what extent you might rely on the protection
of the British Government, and I told him that so long as you behaved to us, as you have done
in the past, in a friendly manner, our influence would be exerted here to maintain you and your
tribes in the enjoyment of your hereditary rights and customs, and to dissuade the Government
of Tehran from any endeavour to diminish or interfere with them. Hajji Reis thereupon said
that you were not afraid of the Persian Government itself, nor of attack iDy neighbouring tribes
acting or professing to act under its orders; but that you wished to know whether we should
protect you in the event of an attempt by a foreign Power to depose you or deprive your people
of the rights which they at present possess. This might happen in two ways: either such a
foreign Power might be at war with Persia, and might, as an enemy of the Shah, send ships to
attack your district; or such a Power, pretending to be the friend of the Persian Government or
to act on its behalf, might attempt, also by means of its ships, to conquer you and the Arabs.
I replied that both contingencies were extremely unlikely, but il either were to arise we should, I
* Enclosure in Mr. Spring-Rice No. 15, March 20, 1900.