Anglo - Iranian relations 1905-1919

The period between 1905-19 in Anglo Iranian relations, the subject of this study, marks a turning point in the history of Persia. Because of its strategic and com mercial importance Persia had, for long, been a bone of contention between England and Russia. Russia was interested in getting access to the warm-water ports of the Per sian Gulf, and with that end in view, a con trolling or dominating position in Persia. England took the Russian move as a poten tial menace to her Indian Empire. A tug of war between these two powers dominated the entire period under review, which led to the emergence of a strong national move ment directed against foreign domination and the establishment of a constitutional government in Persia.

Though the study is principally concerned with Anglo-Iranian relations, the author has done, so in the context of Anglo-Russian and Russo-Persian relations. It is a study in international relations; it is not a study in the domestic history of Persia. The author has, however, carefully considered the effects of the constitutional and national movement in Persia on the international question.

The merit of the work lies in the way the author has pieced together, explained and interpreted the documents in their historical setting, during the period of Anglo-Russian rivalry since the eighteenth century (Chap ter I), as well as during the period 1907-19 when they established a practical con dominium over Persia (Chapters III, IV and V). Every important event has been notic ed. The study points out the hollowness of British policy in Persia owing to its extra ordinary sensitivity to the Russian interests and motives. Chapter VI is a critical study of the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, in view of its consequences till 1917. Con ditions in Persia during and after World War I also have been discussed.