§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference to the Proclamation of the Shah of Persia issued in May last, encouraging the formation of Companies and promising them protection, Whether that promise was put forth in any degree at the suggestion of Her Majesty's Government or Her Majesty's Representative; and, whether the formal communication of the Proclamation to Foreign Powers will give them any claim to interfere on behalf of Companies or capitalists who may choose to embark in speculations in Persia?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Her Majesty's Representative at Teheran was aware beforehand of the intentions of the Shah to issue the Proclamation, and encouraged it. Her Majesty's Government have themselves repeatedly urged the Shah to throw open the Karun River to steam navigation, and to encourage the construction of railways and carriage roads from the Persian Gulf. The formal communication of the Proclamation to the Foreign Representatives constitutes, in effect, an assurance on the part of His Majesty to which a Foreign Government might appeal; but that the right of interference on behalf of British subjects who may embark in commercial or in- 75 dustrial enterprizes in Persia is founded on Article IX. of the Treaty of 1857, insuring most-favoured nation treatment to British subjects and their trade, and, consequently, extended to them the provisions of the Treaty of Commerce between Russia and Persia, signed at Turkmantchai in 1828.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLgave Notice that on an early opportunity he should call attention to the subject.