IOR/L/PS/9/70/159

Translation of a letter from Abbas Meerza [Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār] to the Grand Duke Constantine [Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia]. In the letter, Abbas Meerza argues that the outbreak of hostilities between Russia and Persia [Iran] [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828] resulted from Persia’s failure to obtain redress for encroachments made on Persian territory by the Russian ‘frontier authorities’ in the Caucasus, referring to encroachments made during the mission of the Russian envoy Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov] to Persia to negotiate the frontier. Abbas Meerza indicates that the Shah of Persia was also under pressure from political and religious leaders to retaliate for the Russian encroachments, and that he believes that Persia is not at fault for the outbreak of war, owing to continual encroachments on Persian territory.

This document was originally enclosed, numbered 2 in enclosure No. 1, in the letter of the East India Company Envoy to Persia, Lieutenant-Colonel John Macdonald Kinneir, to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 23 December 1826 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/156).