(No. 6.) AGREEMENT between Great Britain and Persia, cancelling the Subsidy Articles of the Treaty of 25th November, 1814.*-March-August, 1828.†

(1.) Bond granted by Abbas Meerza, Prince Royal of Persia, to Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonald, British Envoy. March, 1828. (Translation.)

BE it known to Colonel Macdonald, British Envoy at our Court, that we, the Heir Apparent to the Persian Throne, in virtue of the Full Powers vested in us by the Shah in all matters touching the Foreign Relations of this Kingdom, do hereby pledge our solemn word and promise, that if the British Government will assist us with the sum of 200,000 tomauns towards the liquidation of the indemnity due by us to Russia, we will expunge and hereafter consider as annulled the IIIrd and IVth Articles of the Definitive Treaty between the 2 States concluded by Mr. Ellis, and obtain the Royal Sanction to the

same.

This Paper bears the Seal of His Royal Highness Abbas Meerza, and that of His Persian Majesty's Minister the Kaim

Mukum.

Dated in the month of Shaban, or March, 1828.

(2.) Ruckum of His Highness the Heir Apparent of Persia, ratifying the Abrogation of Articles III and IV of the Treaty of 25th November, 1814.-24th August, 1828.

RELATIVE to the Articles III and IV of the propitious Treaty between England and Persia, which was concluded by Mr. Ellis, in the month of Zeekand, A.H. 1229 [25th November, 1814] (Page 6), agreeably to the Engagements entered into with your Excellency, that in consequence of the sum of 200,000 tomauns, the currency of the Country, presented as an aid to Persia, in consideration of the losses she has sustained in the War with Russia, we, the Heir Apparent, vested with Full Powers in all matters connected with the politics of this Nation, have agreed that the said 2 Articles shall be expunged, and have delivered a Bond to your Excellency, which is now in your hands.

In the month of Zikeyla, A.H. 1243, on our going to wait upon His Majesty at Tehran, in consistence with the Note addressed to your Excellency by Meerza Abul Hassan Khan, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, we were appointed Sole Agent in this matter by His Majesty, with unlimited authority; therefore, as the Government of England, through the medium of

Colonel Macdonald, have afforded us the assistance of 200,000 tomauns, we, the Representative of His Majesty, have, on this day, the 14th of the month Suffer, and the 24th of the Christian month August, annulled the 2 obnoxious Articles of our propitious Treaty.

The Envoy, considering this Document as a Ratification on the subject of the 2 Articles, will know that it is liable to no further comment from the Ministers of His Majesty's Court. Month of Suffer, A.H. 1244.

Sealed by H.R.H. ABBAS MEERZA.

(3.) Firmaun of His Majesty the Shah of Persia, ratifying the above.

(Translation.)

After Compliments.

LET it be known to Colonel Macdonald, the English Envoy, exalted by our munificence, that our Noble Son having represented to us his having recently come to an arrangement relative to the 2 Articles of the Treaty with England, we have ordered that what has been executed by our Son touching this transaction, in conformity with the Firmaun of Full Powers granted to him by us, be confirmed by our Royal Ratification and Consent; and we duly appreciate the exertions of your Excellency during the last year, which have obtained you the good will of the Shah.

Regarding the crore of tomauns required for the redemption of Khoee, agreeably to what has been laid before us, His Royal Highness Abbas Meerza has directed the payment of 400,000 tomauns by Mahommed Meerza; and we have besides instructed the remaining 100,000 tomauns to be delivered to Meerza Abul Hassan Khan, Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the purpose of being transmitted to you.

Your Excellency will therefore, conceiving this Firmaun as your security, become responsible for the payment of the above sum, which will be afterwards paid to you by the Lord of exalted rank, Meerza Abul Hassan Khan. Also make known to us all your wishes. HIS MAJESTY FUTTEH ALI SHAH.

Sealed by

[The transfer of the British Mission at the Court of Persia from the East India Company to the Foreign Office was accomplished in November, 1835.]

(No. 7.) TREATY of Commerce between Great Britain and Persia.-Signed at Tehran, 28th October, 1841.*

[No date was fixed for the termination of this Treaty; but see also Treaty of 4th March, 1857, Art. IX, page 19.]

Art.

[Signed in the English and Persian Languages.]

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Preamble. Reference to Treaty of 25th November, 1814.

I. Privileges of Merchants. Import and Export Duties, Most-favoured-nation Treatment. No other Claim to be made on Merchants (Taxes, &c.). Aid, Support, and Respect to Subjects and Merchants, Most-favoured-nation Treatment.

II. Residence of British Commercial Agents at Tehran and Consul-General at Tabreez. Residence of British Resident at Bushire. Residence of Persian Commercial Agents at London and Bombay.

PREAMBLE.

WHEREAS by the benign favour of the One Almighty God, whose bounties are infinite, from the day on which the Treaty of Friendship and Attachment was concluded between the glorious States of Great Britain and Persia, the renowned and just Sovereigns of the 2 everlasting States have, day by day, and at all times, attended to and observed the whole of its Articles and Stipulations, and have caused the subjects of both Governments to enjoy all its benefits and advantages except the Treaty of Commerce, which, in the Preamble of the Treaty of the year 1814,† the 2 Governments engaged to conclude, and which, up to this time, for certain reasons has been postponed and left unfinished: therefore, in this fortunate year, that all the stipulations of the auspicious Treaty may be fulfilled, Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, &c., &c., &c., has appointed Sir John McNeill, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Persia, to be her sole Plenipotentiary; and His Majesty the Shah of Persia, &c., &c., &c., has appointed His Excellency Hajee Meerza Abul Hassan Khan, His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to be his sole Plenipotentiary: and the said Plenipotentiaries having concluded a Commercial Treaty in these 2 Articles, have annexed and united it to the original Treaty, that, by the aid of God, it may henceforth be observed between the 2 Governments, and be a source of advantage to the subjects

of both.

Privileges of Merchants.

ART. I. The merchants of the 2 mighty States are reciprocally permitted and allowed to carry into each other's territories their goods and manufactures of every description, and to sell or exchange them in any part of their respective countries:

From "State Papers," Vol. 29, page 1110.

+ See Treaty, 25th November, 1814, page 6.

Import and Export Duties. Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment.

And on the goods which they import or export, customs duties shall be levied, that is to say, on entering the country the same amount of customs duties shall be levied, once for all, that is levied on merchandize imported by the merchants of the most favoured European nations; and at the time of going out of the country, the same amount of customs duties which is levied on the merchandize of merchants of the most favoured European nations shall be levied from the merchants, subjects of the High Contracting Parties:

No other Claim to be made on Merchants. (Taxes, &c.).

And except this, no claim shall be made upon the merchants of the 2 States in each other's dominions on any pretext or under any denomination :

Aid, Support, and Respect to Subjects and Merchants. MostFavoured-Nation Treatment.

And the merchants or persons connected with or dependent upon the High Contracting Parties in each other's dominions, mutually, shall receive the same aid and support, and the same respect which are received by the subjects of the most favoured nations.

Residence of British Commercial Agents at Teheran, and ConsulGeneral at Tabreez.*

ART. II. As it is necessary, for the purpose of attending to the affairs of the merchants of the 2 Parties respectively, that from both Governments Commercial Agents should be appointed to reside in stated places; it is therefore arranged that 2 Commercial Agents on the part of the British Government shall reside, one in the capital and one in Tabreez, and in those places only, and on this condition, that he who shall reside at Tabreez, and he alone, shall be honoured with the privileges of Consul-General :

Residence of British Resident at Bushire.

And as for a series of years a Resident of the British Government has resided at Bushire,† the Persian Government grants permission that the said Resident shall reside there as heretofore:

Although, by Treaty, Bushire, Tabreez, and Teheran are the only places in Persia where British Consular Agents can reside, the British Mission has for many years entertained Agents in Shiraz, Ispahan, and other cities of Persia, to assist British subjects in their affairs, and to transmit to the Mission intelligence of passing events, although these Agents have not the privileges of Consuls." Mr. Murray to the Sidi Azim, 8th November, 1855, "State Papers," Vol. 47, page 101. There is now a British Consul-General for the Province of Fars and the Coasts and Islands of the Persian Gulf, another for the Provinces of Khorassan and Seistan to reside at Meshed, and another at Tabreez, as well as a Consul at Resht, and Vice-Consuls at Tehran and Bushire. See "Foreign Office List," 1891.

+ See Agreement of 12th April, 1763, and Royal Grant of 2nd July, 1763, next page.

Residence of Persian Commercial Agents at London and Bombay. And, in like manner, 2 Commercial Agents shall reside on the part of the Persian Government, one in the capital, London, and one in the port of Bombay, and shall enjoy the same rank and privileges which the Commercial Agents of the British Government shall enjoy in Persia.

This Commercial Treaty, We, the Plenipotentiaries of the High Contracting Parties, have agreed to; and in witness thereof, have set thereunto our hands and seals, at the capital city of Tehran, this 28th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1841, corresponding to the 12th day of the month Ramazan, in the year of the Hejjera 1257.

(L.S.) JOHN MCNEILL. (L.S.) MEERZA ABUL HASSAN KHAN.

Agreement made with Shaik Sadoon of Bushire,* 12th April, 1763.

Art.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

I. No Import or Export Duties to be Levied; 3 per cent. only to be charged on Goods Bought from or Sold to the English.

II. Woollen Goods to be Imported and Sold to English only.

III. No other European Nation whatever is to be permitted to Settle at Bushire so long as the English continue a Factory there.

IV. British Protection to Brokers, Linguists, Servants, &c.

V. Payment of Debts due to the English.

VI. The English to have such a spot of ground as they may pitch upon for erecting a Factory, and proper conveniences for carrying on their commerce to be built at the Shaik's expense. They are to hoist their colours upon it, and have twenty-one guns for saluting.

VII. A proper spot of Ground to be allotted the English for a Garden and another for a Burying Ground.

VIII. Religion.

IX. Surrender of Naval, Military, and other Deserters.

X. Goods Bought or Sold, otherwise than through English Factory.

XI. Wrecks.

XII. Goods not to be Purchased from English Vessels in the Roads.

(2.) Royal Grant from Karem Khan, King of Persia, conferring various Privileges on the English, and granting Permission to them to establish a Factory at Bushire, and to Trade in the Persian Gulf. Schyrash, 2nd July, 1763.†

Art.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

1. "The English Company may have as much ground, and in any part of Bushire, they choose to build a factory on, or at any other port in the Gulf. They may have as many cannon mounted on it as they choose, but not to be larger than 6 pounds bore; and they may build factory-houses in any part of the kingdom they choose."

From "Aitchison's Treaties," Vol. 6, page 371.

+ From "Hertslet's Commercial Treaties," Vol. 8, page 613.