IOR/L/PS/9/70/223

Translation of a letter from Abbas Mirza [Crown Prince of Persia, ʿAbbās Mīrzā Qājār] to the President of the Board of Control, Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn (IOR/L/PS/9/70/223 (1)), accompanied by the original letter in Persian (IOR/L/PS/9/70/223 (2)). In the letter, Abbas Mirza points to a history of Russian encroachments upon Persian [Iranian] territory, in contravention of the Treaty of Gulistan [signed between Russia and Persia in 1813], for which he believes Persia has never received any form of redress. He justifies Persian military operations against Russia on this basis and on the basis of the mission of the Russian envoy to Persia, Prince Minchikoff [Prince Aleksandr Sergeevich Menshikov], having no authority to reverse the most recent Russian encroachments into Persian territory. He argues that these encroachments represented the first aggression in the resulting war between Russia and Persia [Russo-Persian War, 1826-1828], and calls for British mediation between the two states, and for assistance in the war from the British.

This document was originally enclosed, numbered 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 8 May 1827 (IOR/L/PS/9/70/222).