‏"ملخص الأحداث والتدابير الرئيسية التي اتخذها سمو نائب الملك اللورد كرزون من كيدلستون، نائب الملك والحاكم العام للهند في إدارة الخارجية. ‏I‏. يناير ١٨٩٩-أبريل ١٩٠٤. ‏II‏. ديسمبر ١٩٠٤-نوفمبر ١٩٠٥. المجلد IV. بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي." [ظ‎‎١‎٥‎٣] (٣٨٦/٣١١)

43
3. 1 wish, however, to draw attention to the parenthetical account of the
arrangements for the ceremonial visit in the extract marked (3) and under
lined in red, of which a literal translation is attrohed. The writer here
distinctly states that it was arranged that, after landing opposite the Govern
ment House or Charburj. I should sec and visit the Ala-ed-Dowleh first, and
that he should then return my visit at the British Residency. Subsequently the
words “his Residency ” have been scored out, and “the Amirieh building”
entered with a pen between the lines. If it is true that the article was
inspired by the Ala-ed-Dowleh, the deliberate falsehood here told as to the
arrangements in the programme seems to deserve attention. In any case, this
note clearly establishes two things—(1) that the local Persian ollicials were
determined to make out that I was to pay the first visit to the Governor-General
of Pars, and (2) that there was no real objection to his calling on me at the
Residency, provided that I had paid the first visit.
4i. The orders received from the Shah that the Ala-ed-Dowleh was not to.
call upon me in any circumstances at the Residency arc, therefore, inexpli
cable, and the attempt which has been made by the Persian Government to
allege that I declined to carry out the pre-arranged programme is a subterfuge.
The allegation made by the I ersian Minister to the Marquess of Lansdowne,
as reported iu a telegram from the latter to Mr. Grant Huff, No. 112, dated the
9th December 1903, that I insisted on the Ala-ed-Dowleh coming on hoard to
meet me and conduct me on shore as a condition of my landing is absolutely
untrue, and I concur in the opinion
* Copy enclosed. expressed by Sir A. Hardinge in his
despatch * No. 10 (Persian Gulf), dated
the 15th December 1903, to the foreign Office (which, owing to the want of
time to make two copies before the departure of the n ail, he forwarded through
us to the Marquess of Lansdowne) that for this the Ala-od-Dow leh should,
certainly he called to account.
No. 10, Persian Gulf.
Enclosure to 17-
Basrah ;
loth December 1903.
Mr Lord,
A repetition of Your Lordship’s telegram of the 9th instant, giving the-
snbstance of a communication from the Persian Minister in London respecting
the Viceroy’s visit, only reached me on my arrival here yesterday, and will,
I hope, have been fully answered by the one which I have* had the honour to
address to you this morning.
It is of course true that Mr. Grant Duff accepted on behalf of the Viceroy
in an official note a residence on shore on Bushire. "What the Persian Gov
ernment, however, actually offered His Excellency was first a house not
“ at Bushire, ” hut 5 miles off, to proceed to which for a brief official ceremony
would have entailed very great inconvenience and loss of time, and afterwards
a room in the house occupied by their own representative. The offer of the
“ Amirieh,” which is now occupied by some officials of the Customs, if originally
made would have been accepted without difficulty, hut it was only suggested at
the very last moment, when the Viceroy had formally asked for and been
curtly refused the visit at the Residency first proposed by me and agreed to by
the Persians. I
I have telegraphed to Mr. Grant Duff to ascertain on what authority the
Persian Government informed the Ala es-Sultaneh that the Viceroy, besides
insisting on the Residency visit, had declined to land unless the Ala-ed-Dowleh
like the Isiam of Maskat ’ first went on hoard his ship. If this statement,
which is absolutely false, can he traced to the Ala-ed-Dowleh it would confirm
the insinuations made to me by certain Persian officials who are not his best