§ Lord Eliotwished to ask Viscount Palmerston a question respecting the state of our relations with Persia. He had heard it stated, that we had at present no representative at the court of Persia; that Mr. M'Neill had retired from it in consequence, as he understood, of an expedition having being undertaken on the part of the Schah, contrary to the wishes of the Government of this country, against the independence of Herat; and that our diplomatic relations with Persia had been, for the same reason, altogether broken off. He should feel obliged to the noble Lord to state, if there were any grounds for such a report.
§ Viscount Palmerstontrusted, that the report was not only untrue but unfounded. He should not say altogether unfounded, because the circumstances he should detail to the House gave some colour to it. The 950 Schah of Persia commenced an expedition some time ago to a place eastward of Persia, to which he laid certain claims, upon which claims, he would not express any opinion. The English officers in the Persian service did not accompany the Schah on that occasion, except one, who did not act in a military capacity, but as an instructor of a corps of cadets. When the Schah was at Herat, near the frontier, a messenger belonging to the English mission in Persia was despatched by Mr. M'Neill with letters, and was returning to Teheran, when he was stopped by some persons who formed part of the military expedition of the Schah. He was treated with great violence, carried to the Schah's camp, deprived of the letters of which he was the bearer, treated not only with indignity, but personal cruelty, and in spite of the remonstrances of Colonel Stoddart, who went to the Schah and claimed for him that protection to which he was entitled by the law of nations, was still detained, and not allowed until a considerable time had elapsed to resume his journey to Teheran. Mr. M'Neill thought it his duty immediately, and without waiting for instructions from home, to demand full and ample satisfaction and reparation, and he had informed her Majesty's Government, that if that reparation should be denied, he should feel it to be his duty to break off all diplomatic relations with Persia, and according to the circumstances of the case, either to remain there unofficially, or retire altogether with his mission to the Turkish territory. He had two days since received a despatch from Mr. M'Neill, in which he stated, that he had not at that time obtained an answer to the demand he had made for reparation; nor could he, because that despatch was sent off before his messenger who conveyed the demand had returned from the Schah's camp. Probably the Schah, upon consideration, would be sensible of the gross impropriety of the proceeding he had detailed, and satisfaction would not be refused. If it were refused, it certainly would not be consistent with the honour or interests of this country that the steps proposed to be taken by Mr. M'Neill should not be adopted.