Treaties, &c. Concluded Between Great Britain and Persia

properly endeavour and persevere that the people be masters of their lives and property, in order that they may, with the greatest ease and prosperity, engage themselves in enterprises which are the basis of civilization and the source of wealth; therefore, for the information and assurance of all the subjects and people, in order to make them acquainted with the watchfulness, tempered with justice, of our sovereign mind, by the issue of this great Proclamation and noble Address, we make it generally known to the people of the united countries of Persia, that all our subjects, as regards their lives and property, are free and independent, so that they may, without fear or apprehension, exercise any right of proprietorship they like over their own belongings, and any enterprise for which the combination of money and formation of companies for the construction of works and roads and any branch of the branches of civilization and wealth which they may undertake will give us satisfaction and pleasure, and the protection of such is our duty, and no one shall have the right or power to lay hands upon, or take possession of, or interfere with, the life or property, or punish or chastise the subjects of the Persian Government, except it be in execution of the religious and civil laws.

Month of Ramazan-ul-Mubareh, 1303 (May, 1888).

FIRMA UN of the Shah of Persia for the execution of the foregoing Proclamation.-May, 1888.

(Translation.)

(THE Firmans contain the same words as the Proclamation, with an additional injunction, of which the following, addressed to the Veliahd, or Heir Apparent, at Tabriz, is a specimen.)

It is commanded that the Dawn of the Soul's Light, the Key of the Gates of Victory, the Light of the Eyes of the Khilafet and Kingdom, Resplendence of the Face of Sovereignty and Empire, Dear and Most Noble Son, Light of the Eyes, Muzaferud-Din Mirza, Veliahd of the Everlasting Kingdom of Persia, Governor-General of the Province of Azerbaijan, will execute this world-respected Imperial Firman, and not allow it to be disregarded; and this very Firman is to be read in all Masjids and meeting-houses, and is to be generally explained and instilled into the people, and published to all small towns, districts, and even villages and settlements, so that all the subjects of Persia be informed of this Imperial command, and bonds are to be taken from the petty authorities, binding them to carry out these commands, and any one disregarding this order will be so punished and chastised as to be the wonder of the spectators. (May, 1888.)

PERSIAN CIRCULAR announcing the Opening of the Karun River, from Mohammerah to Ahwaz.-30th October, 1888. (Translation.) (Circular.)

THE Persian Government, with a view to the extension of commerce and wealth in her provinces and the progress of agriculture in Khuzistan and Ahwaz, has ordered that commercial steamers of all nations, without exception, besides sailing vessels which formerly navigated the Karun River, undertake the transport of merchandize in the Karun River from Mohammerah to the Dyke at Ahwaz; but it is on the condition that they do not pass the Dyke at Ahwaz upwards, as from the Dyke upwards the river navigation is reserved to the Persian Government itself and its subjects, and the tolls which the Persian Government will organize shall be paid at Mohammerah. Such vessels are not to carry goods prohibited by the Persian Government, and vessels are not to stay longer than necessary for the unloading and loading of commercial loads. 24 Sefer (1303) (30 October, 1888).

PERSIAN NOTICE, prohibiting the Traffic in Slaves by Sea or Land.-1st February, 1890.

ON the 1st February, 1890, H.E. the Saad-ul-Mulk, Governor of Bushire, held a "Mejlis " at the Government House at Lingah, to which he summoned all the principal persons and merchants of the place, and publicly read a notice, announcing that whoever engaged in the traffic in slaves, either by sea or land, would be severely punished and fined.

The Deputy-Governor was, at the same time, ordered to affix copies of this notice in all places, and to take a bond from the Customs farmer that he would bring to the notice of the authorities any case of importation of slaves by land or sea.

PART III.

TREATIES, &C.,

CONCLUDED BY PERSIA WITH FOREIGN POWERS, OTHER THAN WITH GREAT BRITAIN, WHICH WERE WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY IN FORCE ON THE 1ST APRIL, 1891.

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LIST OF TREATIES, &c., concluded by Persia with Foreign Powers (other than with Great Britain),* and which were wholly or partially in force on the 1st April, 1891.