IOR/L/PS/10/584

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, telegrams, correspondence, memoranda, notes and printed papers in 1916 relating to the development of British policy towards Persia as well as the British relationship with Russia vis-à-vis its position and interests in Persia.

The discussion in the volume relates to the terms, duration and articles of the Treaty of Alliance developed by 'three-cornered conversations between Teheran, London and Petrograd' as well as the views of the Government of India on the proposed Treaty.

The volume includes:

• A printed copy of the proposed agreement with Persia (ff 260-261).
• Comments of HBM's Minister for Teheran (Sir Charles Murray Marling) on Persian proposals and details of the Russian counter-draft (ff 236-238).
• A draft in French (ff 213-214) of the proposed treaty.
• A note (ff 161-165) on 'Persian Expenditure: the "half and half" arrangement' on the division of costs in Persia between HM Government and the Government of India.
• A telegram dated 31 August 1916 (f 81) listing the members of the Cabinet of the Prime Minister to the Shah of Persia Yossugh od Dowleh [Mushir-ed-Dowleh].
• A printed paper (ff 43-44) from the Minister to Tehran to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Edward Grey) detailing a history of Sipasalar's A'zam's administration.

Further discussion surrounds the associated negotiations of issues including: the abrogation of the Treaty of Turcomanshai [Turkmenchay] in which Russia dictated terms to end the Russo-Persian War (1826-1828); cancellation of Persian debt; tenure of land by foreigners; recognition of Persian territorial claims in the Gulf; and Persian concerns over de facto partition.

The correspondence also discusses the creation of a Cossack brigade for use by Persia and further potential military assistance to Persia; an Anglo-Russian subsidy to the Persian Government and mechanisms of financial control; the role of the South Persia Military Police in the 'restoration of order' in Fars and Kerman; and the loss by the Persian Government of correspondence relating to the Treaty.

The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Walter Louis Frederick Goltz Langley); the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); HBM Minister at Teheran (Sir Charles Murray Marling); the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Prescott Trevor); Permanent Under-Secretary of State, India Office (Sir Thomas William Holderness); HBM Ambassador to Petrograd (Sir George William Buchanan); the Viceroy (Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst); and the Prime Minister to the Shah of Persia (Mushir-ed-Dowleh).

The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.