A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 287, 1 September 1941, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

The Gateway To India BRITAIN AND IRAN “In order to win the war Hitler must destroy Great Britain! He may carry havoc into the Balkan States, he may tear large provinces out of Russia, he may march to the Caspian, he may march to the gates of India —all this will avail him nothing. It may spread his curse , more widely throughout Europe and Asia. But it will not avert his doom. . . .” This is one of Mr. Churchill’s prophecies, and it Was made as long ago as February 8. Hitler has carried havoc into the Balkans, and since June his armies have ; been “tearing large provinces out.' of Russia.” But the shores, of the Caspian are still a long way off, and during the last few days Great Britain and Russia have intervened in Iran. (Persia) K to forestall Nazi designs on the gates of India. \ Napoleon And Iran How history repeats itself was shown in an article on Wednesday describing how German designs in Iran were frustrated by Britain and Russia in 1915-18. But this was by no means the first time that Great Britain was compelled to intervene in Iran to safeguard her vital interests in the Middle East and in India. Iran is indeed one of the gateways to India. Napoleon planned to use the Shah of Iran as an instrument for the Invasion of India with French and Russian troops. In ISOO such a move was seriously considered by Napoleon and Paul of Russia. Indeed, the latter actually ordered the Don Cossacks to march ou India. The movement was begun, without supply columns or maps, but it was stopped at the Volga, upon the' death of the Tsar.

Britain, determined to forestall the French, instructed her agent, Captain John Malcolm, to induce the Shah to bring pressure on the Amir of Kabul, to counteract Napoleon’s designs, and to negotiate a political and commercial treaty. Malcolm’s success was complete, but he was withdrawn and no permanent representative was left iu Teheran. ' Napoleon took advantage of the post- . tion and in 1802 made definite overtures to Iran. These were followed up in 1805 by the appearance at Teheran of a French envoy who, in view of the fact that Napoleon had declared war on Russia, offered to restore Georgia to Persia and to subsidize the Shah who, in return, was to join France iu an invasion of India. After much hesitation the Shah agreed to the French proposals. Fortune, however, favoured Great Britain since, by that time, Napoleon had made peace with the Czar .of Russia, and Iran lost all hope of recovering Georgia through French - aid. Britain’s Policy

In 1814 the. French mission was dismissed and a definite treaty was signed in Teheran by the terms of which treaties or military co-operation with nations hostile to Great Britain were barred, Iran further pledging herself to use her influence with the States of. Central Asia to ad’opt a similar policy- „ The treaty dealt with the French peril after it had actually passed. Iran felt bound to fight for Georgia for the recovery of which she waged two disastrous campaigns. The first ended with her defeat in 1812. Thirteen years later she made a second attempt and her final defeat was recorded in a treaty with Russia signed in 1828. Iran then decided to make efforts to recover Herat and other provinces that now formed the State of Afghanistan. This trend of policy was viewed unfavourably by the British Government, since Iran was under Russian influence and, if she reconquered Herat, Kabul and Kandahar, Russian agents would be established close to India. Actually Iran’s objective during this period was Herat, and Great Britain made strenuous and successful efforts to keep the province outside the influence of both Iran and Russia. In 1837 the Shall opened his campaign and laid siege to Herat. By a stroke of good fortune, an Englisii artillery officer, Eldred Pottiuger, was in Herat, aud became the life and soul of its defence. In the spring of 183’’ the Shah’s forces made a six-day effort, but the general assault failed. The 'Shah was utterly dejected, and when he received a communication from the British Government that the occupation of Herat would be regarded as a hostile act aud that the island oKharak had been seized by British troops, he agreed to the demands and broke off the siege. Outram’s Campaign

During the generation that followed her victories over Iran, Russia not only strengthened ber influence in the Caspian region, but made great efforts to gain a footing in Central Asia and in Afghanistan. The British Government imposed a treaty on Iran, by the terms of which the Shah agreed not to semi troops iutq the province o. Herat, unless it was attacked from outside.' The treaty caused great irritation iu Iran aud was the mam cause of relations being broken off between the two countries. Iran then gained possession of Herat through an Afghan nominee in 18u6, and there was intense delight throughout the country. But Great Britain liad to be reckoned with. In addition to paying a subsidy to the Amir ot Afghanistan, she declared war on Persia arid landed an expeditionary force at Bushire early in 1857. The British troops were'commanded bv Sir James Outram —the “Bayard of India”—who later in the year was to render distinguished service in suppressing the Indian Mutiny. It was said of him at this time that “a fox is a fool and a lion a coward by the side of Sir James Outram.” Under Outram, a march was made inland and an Iranian force was defeated. The troops were then transferred to the mouth of the Karun River, where a second brilliant success was gained. Iran had already sued for peace, and by the terms of a treaty signed in Paris, the Shah agreed to evacuate Herat and to recognize the independence of Afghanistan. The Shah, Nasir-ud-Dhin, was fated to see the advance of Russia across Central Asia until she entirely enveloped his northern frontiers. In 1881, Skobeloff stormed the last stronghold of Turkoman and Iran was forced to accept a most unfavourable daryOn the south-eastern border of Iran. Baluchistan was in the state of anarchy into which the country had relapsed at the encl of the 18th ««- tury. No immediate attempt would have been made to interfere with this state of affairs, but for the fact that it was decided to construct a telegraph, line across Iran to India. Negotiations resulted in a boundary line being drawn between Iran and British Baluchistan. This province was really the creation of that great frontier officer, Sir Robert Sandeman, through whose exertions law and order were gradually introduced into a “no man I land.”—(S.D.W.).