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Gives his opinion that there are unlikely to be orders for the despatch of the Expedition by the. next mail, judging by a letter received from the President. Sends some papers. There is a rumour that Herat fell on the 11th.

Encloses: 1. Letter from the Honourable C A Murray to Lord Elphinstone, Baghdad, 1 Sep, Murray believes that coercive measures towards Persia will be necessary. Recommends the plan of landing at Mohummerah, because Shuster is the best point at which to direct an expedition. Bushire will presumably be blockaded or bombarded, and the Aga Khan let loose upon his own country, with one or two thousand men to help him at first until his adherents join him. To march upon Shiraz and Ispahan from Bushire is a very long and tiring journey, with mountains to cross, and if the coast is attacked, the poor Arabs on the coast will be more harmed than the Persian Government. Shuster is the easiest place to begin a campaign. He does not discuss the possibility of marching on Kandahar from the Indus, as that is out of his line. If the Expedition is made in earnest, and 10,000 men sent to the Gulf, the campaign will be over in 3 months, with very few casualties.

2. Copy of a letter from Mr Stevens, Camp near Teheran, 18 Aug, to Lord Elphinstone informing him that the Foreign Office has called upon the Persian Government for immediate reparation for its violation of the Herat convention, and for the withdrawal of the Army. If this is not carried out, the British Government will take action. Stevens thinks there is not the least chance that the Persian Government will accede to either request, until forced to do so; the King has repeatedly sworn that he will add Herat to his dominions. Stevens has been told that Captain Berhler (?) was engaged in mining Herat with 6,000 men. Stevens hopes an Expedition is to be sent to the Gulf, nothing else will bring, the Persians to their senses. There is an impression in Persia that England will not be permitted by France to employ coercive measures. Lord Stratford writes that the Persians have requested the Porte to remain neutral, and the Porte replied that it will assist England if required. Private.