In this book, Mansour Bonakdarian provides a detailed account of the British involvement and support of the Iranian constitutional and national struggle of 1906-1911, which was directed against the Iranian autocracy and Anglo-Russian imperial intervention of Iran. In particular, Bonakdarian examines the role of the Persia Committee, a lobbying group founded in 1908 for the sole purpose of changing Britain’s policy towards Iran. This book’s strength lies in its coverage of how Edward Grey’s policy towards Iran was shaped and the extent to which it was affected by sustained criticism from a number of disparate group of dissenters, radicals, socialists, liberal imperialists, and conservatives.
The volume and breadth of primary archival materials used is extensive. Not only have all the standard collections been examined, such as the Foreign Office files and the Cabinet and Grey papers but also numerous private archives in international libraries have been consulted. Bonakdarian’s deep understanding of the Iranian issues adds a rich and balanced approach to the literature in the field. With clear and systematic arguments, he offers an account of diplomatic history that is accessible and persuasive. His scholarship is certain to reinvigorate dialogue on the subject of Anglo-Iranian relations.
