Anglo-Persian Treaty

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

an agreement entered into Aug. 9, 1919, at Teheran, capital of Persia, between Great Britain and Persia in regard to the future relation of the two countries. The text of the documents was published in England on Aug. 16. There were two main features of the instrument: one was an agreement on the part of Great Britain to furnish, at Persia's expense, military officers, munitions, and equipment for an army that should maintain order in Persia and on her frontiers. The second offered a loan to Persia of £2,000,000, which was to be redeemable in 20 years and take priority over all other debts, except a previous loan for a smaller amount. The loan was to bear interest at 7 per cent., and as collateral Persia pledged her customs receipts. Accompanying the agreement, and practically a part of it, were letters from the British representative offering to aid Persia in recovering her war claims, and in the adjustment of her boundaries. Considerable criticism arose in other countries as soon as the terms of the agreement were made known. The treaty was strongly attacked in the French press, which claimed that Great Britain had obtained a virtual protectorate over Persia. It was pointed out that the treaty had been concluded without first having been submitted to the League of Nations. It was alleged that Persian sovereignty had been practically destroyed. In commercial circles the agreement was looked at askance as an attempt to assure British control over the Persian oil fields and other great natural resources. British officials, however, asserted that Persian independence was not jeopardized by the agreement, and denied any purpose of creating a protectorate. The Persian Foreign Minister, speaking in behalf of his government, declared that the independence of Persia was not imperilled by the agreement, and that it gave Great Britain no permanent rights or monopolies.