BRITISH POLICY IN PERSIA. 335 



to certain indications of a recrudescence of British 

 power. 



I have outlined briefly — how briefly I am only too 

 well aware — the difliculties we have to face, and the 

 disadvantages from which we suffer. It remains for 

 me, in bringing to a conclusion this short survey of the 

 situation in Persia, to make rapid mention of what has 

 been said and what has been done to counteract and 

 to overcome them. 



In the first place, the British Government have 

 taken their courage in their hands, and, mirahile dictu, 

 have declared a policy. In 1902 the Under-Secretary 

 of State for Foreign Affairs laid it down that it would 

 be impossible for us, whatever the cause, to abandon 

 what we look upon as our rightful position in Persia. 

 " Especially is that true in regard to the Persian Gulf 

 It is true not only of the Persian Gulf but of the 

 southern provinces of Persia and those provinces which 

 border on our Indian Empire. Our rights there and 

 our position of ascendancy we cannot abandon." It is 

 satisfactory to observe that it is here realised that 

 British interests do not reach their limit with the high- 

 water mark of the wild sea- waves, and that for securing 

 the natural rights of India " purely naval control is a 

 very imperfect instrument, unless supported and re- 

 inforced by the shores on which it acts." ^ And this 

 declaration was repeated and emphasised by Lord 

 Lansdowne in May 1903, when speaking upon the 

 question in the House of Lords : " I say it without 

 hesitation, we should regard the establishment of a 

 naval base or of a fortified port in the Persian Gulf by 

 any other Power as a very grave menace to British 

 interests, and we should certainly resist it with all the 

 means at our disposal." 



1 The Persian Gulf and International Eelations. Captain A. T. Mahan. 



