Britain and South-West Persia 1880-1914: A Study in Imperialism and Economic Dependence

In the late 1800s, Britain began to put immense pressure on the Shah’s government to open up the Karun trade route, which linked the Persian Gulf to the rich provinces in southwest Iran, to her trade and commerce, and influence. In October 1888, these pressures resulted in the Iranian Government’s ‘Proclamation’, declaring the opening of the River Karun to international navigation, which benefited Great Britain in its attempt to penetrate the region. This book examines the diplomatic activities and behind-the-scene negotiations which led to the Karun opening, including an ‘Assurance’ given by Britain to the Shah against a Russian retaliation. It also provides a comprehensive analysis of the region’s demography, commerce and industry before the advent of the Karun, and the impact of Britain’s political and commercial penetration, which eventually resulted in her total domination of the south. This analytical study of the Anglo-Iranian relationship is unique in its extensive use of the primary Persian sources and original material found at the Iranian Foreign Ministry archives which have been accessed by the author for the first time.