War and Peace in Qajar Persia: Implications Past and ... - Oguzlar.az

Consolidation of Iran’s frontier 139Indian frontier.” 87 In response to a request by the Government of India in1863 to ascertain the validity of the claims of Persia, Kalat, and Oman inMakran, Goldsmid remarked, in reference to Persia, “as to her right, I knowof none but of the strong over the weak; of the prestige of a high-soundingmonarchy over the obscurity of a small chiefdom.” 88In 1870 the Tehran government agreed to participate in a commission,including representatives of Kalat and Britain, that would establish thefrontier. The Persian government had prior experience with such mixed commissions,having participated in one that was to settle the boundary with theOttoman Empire. Tehran was undoubtedly anxious to establish a border inthe south-east, and was not in a position to oppose the British, having justlost the Anglo-Persian War (1856–1857) and having twice (in the 1830s and1850s) been thwarted in reasserting control over Herat. The Persians did notwant to unduly jeopardize their relationship with the British government overterritory that they did not even control.In 1871, the commission determined a border, placing the boundary at thevillage of Gwatar, about 50 miles west of Gwadar. Gwatar was thus recognizedas Persian, although there was no sign of Persian authority there andthe villagers expressed a “dread and dislike” of the Qajars. 89 Gwadar, an Omanienclave, fell on the Kalat side of the line, ensuring that the telegraph linewas protected to that point. Chahbahar, still held by Oman by right of conquest,was on the Persian side of the line, but the commission did not determineits sovereignty. In 1872, the sartip of Bampur attacked Chahbahar andexpelled the Omanis. Henceforth, Gwadar was the only Omani enclave lefton the Persian coast.In September 1871 the Persian government unhappily accepted the neweastern boundary, with reservations. 90Suspicion, in fact tinged the whole attitude of the Persian Governmentin the Kalat frontier question, it not being understood by them, perhaps,that what was desired by the British Indian authorities was to keep ata distance from India not Persian influence, but the Russian influencewhich might follow in its train. 91Overall, the Persian government came out well in the struggle over the telegraphand benefited greatly from the line’s completion in 1865. More to thepoint, it used its leverage to gain British acknowledgement of its border inthe south-east, confirming Persian ownership of all the territory along theMakran coast from Gwatar westwards. Persia did not obtain Gwadar, whichit did not rule anyway, but was able to evict the Omanis from Chahbaharand assert sovereignty there. As Shahvar concludes:In all, the Shah and his government dragged the British government intoa hard bargain and tough negotiations, and thus Persian conduct in thenegotiations over the Indo-European telegraph line could be remembered