IOR/L/PS/9/70/97

Extracts from the diary of HM Chargé d’Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, for the period 13-22 June 1826. This document details Willock’s conversations with the Shah of Persia [Fath-‘Ali Shāh Qājār] and the following Persian ministers:

• The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Meerza Abul Hassan Khan [Mirza Abū al-Ḥasan Khan Shīrāzī]
• The Prime Minister, Allah Ear Khan [Allah Yar Khan Qajar Davallu, Asif al-Dawlah]
• The Hakim of Tabreez [Tabriz], Futteh Ali Khan [Fath-‘Ali Khan Rashti]
• The former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mirza Abdul Wahab [Mīrzā Abdul Wahāb Nishāt Isfāhānī, Mu'tamid al-Dawlah].

Their conversations concern the ongoing frontier dispute between Russia and Persia, which has the possibly of leading to war, including:

• Negotiations with the Russian envoy Prince Minchakoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] who has been sent to Persia to settle the dispute
• The Shah’s intention of settling the dispute peacefully
• Britain’s opposition to war between Russia and Persia
• The advantages of war to Russia
• The Shah giving the appearance of his intention of going to war in order to encourage the negotiation of a resolution
• The unwillingness, and unpreparedness, of the Prince Royal of Persia, Abbas Mirza [Crown Prince of Persia, 'Abbās Mīrzā Qājār] to go to war with Russia.

This document also includes a note detailing the communications between the Surgeon to HM Mission to Persia, Dr John McNeill, and the Prince Royal, and McNeill’s communications with the Shah, concerning the dispute.

This document was originally enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 28 June 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/95).