Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 672 Japan Agreement
The victory from the north brought cheers throughout the country, just as Musharraf said in parliament.

"Great changes are taking place on the northern front. The situation of fifty years ago has been reversed, and our troops are advancing steadily!"

The members of parliament applauded enthusiastically, especially the Orthodox members, who practically clapped their hands until they bled. Iran was merely restricting their political rights; the Russians, on the other hand, would swallow them whole, down to the bone.

"The Russians' oppression of us is about to disappear. They will not conquer us, not now, and not in the future."

We will enter Odessa, Kiev, Smolensk, and Moscow, accomplishing what even Napoleon failed to achieve. As long as we are here, they will never be able to occupy an inch of our land!

"Long live Iran! Long live the Shah!"

The deafening shouts were so loud they threatened to rip the roof off the parliament building, and even the invited guests couldn't bear it.

"Is this the power of nationalism?" Kido Takayoshi was shocked by the situation of these congressmen.

This power, which tightly bound the nation, the people, and the monarch, and could inspire such astonishing cohesion and fervent emotions, was both a tremendous shock to the Japanese delegation, which was seeking a path to modernization and trying to break free from unequal treaties, and a subject that urgently needed to be studied.

The Iwakura Mission was the first large-scale diplomatic mission Japan sent to the West, established to absorb advanced Western knowledge and revise treaties. They had already completed their tour of Europe, but due to the outbreak of war between Iran and Russia, they telegraphed Tokyo requesting to stay in Iran for a while.

Although the historical struggles between the two countries angered many people in the Satsuma Domain, Ito Hirobumi, the Minister of Works, advised everyone that if they held such thoughts, Japan would never become a strong nation. Even former enemies had their merits; otherwise, why would they have failed in the past?

Furthermore, since the Meiji Restoration, Iranian goods have surpassed those from countries like the UK and the US in the Japanese market, holding the top market share. The Ministry of Industry has also imported a significant amount of machinery from Iran to establish its own factories, demonstrating the close economic and trade relationship between the two countries.

"Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?" Itō Hirobumi, the deputy envoy of the delegation, was the first to break the silence.

"Amazing mobilization power. They so closely bound the fate of the monarch, the country, and the nation together, inspiring the people with an almost religious fervor. This is similar to our slogan of respecting the emperor and expelling the barbarians."

Kido Takayoshi nodded and added, "More importantly, they are not just paying lip service. What we saw along the way—their railways, factories, telegraph lines, and their disciplined modern army—all demonstrate that this nationalism is based on a real increase in national strength. They are using a war against the traditional European powers to prove the correctness of their path."

Hirobumi Ito continued, “Gentlemen, our decision to remain in Iran was correct. While the models of the European powers are certainly advanced, their social structures and historical traditions are vastly different from ours. Iran, an Eastern empire with a similarly long history and having faced pressure from the West, offers us more direct lessons in its reform experience, especially in how it rapidly achieved national centralization and industrialization amidst powerful adversaries.”

A few days later, through careful arrangements via diplomatic channels, Hirobumi Ito secured a meeting with Iranian Crown Prince Murad. The reason he was chosen was, of course, because he had met the Crown Prince once before.

"Welcome, Mr. Ito. It's been a long time. I never imagined you would become a pillar of Japan." Crown Prince Murad's Persian was transmitted through the translator, his tone calm and composed. Ito Hirobumi bowed deeply: "Your Highness, Crown Prince, it is an honor to be received. It is our privilege to witness the rebirth of your country."

Ito Hirobumi presented gifts prepared by Emperor Meiji, including a complete set of utensils for both matcha and sencha tea ceremonies, fine tea leaves, and a letter of friendship signed by Emperor Meiji, expressing his respect for Naser al-Din Shah and his wishes for friendship between the two countries. There was also a samurai sword, said to have been used by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

"Your Highness, please forgive my bluntness. How did Iran achieve such an astonishing transformation in just two or three decades, especially in the face of strong external pressure from Britain and Russia? Our country is now also deeply aware of the injustices of the treaty and the urgency of external threats, and urgently needs to find a path to self-strengthening."

Murad responded: "We did not simply copy the West from the beginning. We reformed the military first, because only with a sharp sword can we defend the results of the reforms. Then came transportation, education, and finance. We introduced technology, but focused more on cultivating our own talent. We encouraged industry and commerce, but did not completely destroy the traditional economy; instead, we tried to guide and transform it."

Hirobumi Ito listened intently and asked, "So, regarding national spirit, how is that strong sense of cohesion we see in the parliament cultivated?"

Murad smiled. "That's for you to decide."

Ito Hirobumi changed the subject, raising more specific requests for economic and technological cooperation: "Your Highness, our country deeply admires your country's industrialization achievements, especially your railway construction, telegraph network, and military industry. I wonder if our country could send more students to study at your engineering and military academies? At the same time, we also hope to engage in deeper cooperation with your country in the fields of mining, metallurgy, and textiles."

Crown Prince Murad welcomed this, saying, "Knowledge knows no borders, and we are happy to share our experiences with our friendly neighbors. We will make proper arrangements for your students. As for industrial and commercial cooperation, our government has always encouraged it. We can designate specific departments to liaise with your delegation to explore the possibility of technology transfer, equipment export, and joint investment on the basis of mutual benefit."

Over the next few days, Iranian officials from the commerce, education, and transportation sectors held several rounds of intensive talks with the Japanese delegation. The Japanese delegation conducted a detailed inspection of factories in Tehran, arms factories in Isfahan, and the railway hub in Tabriz, and was deeply impressed by Iran's ability to efficiently absorb Western technology while maintaining its own cultural characteristics.

At the same time, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has also carefully assessed the strategic value of deepening relations with Japan. A modernized Japan that is benevolent towards Iran could divert some of Russia's attention in the Far East, while simultaneously providing Iranian goods with a stable Far Eastern market.

After nearly two weeks of negotiations, in early June 1873, representatives of the Qajar dynasty of Iran and the Meiji government of Japan formally signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Technical Cooperation between Iran and Japan at the Royal Palace in Tehran. The main contents of the treaty included:
Iran imposes agreed tariffs on goods such as raw silk, oil, and minerals exported from Japan, as well as goods such as tea, copper, and seafood exported from Japan to Iran. These tariffs are generally lower than those imposed on other European and American countries.

Iran has agreed to accept a certain number of Japanese government-funded students each year to study at the Tehran Polytechnic Institute, Tabriz Engineering College, and the Iranian Army Officer School.

Both sides encouraged technical exchanges and cooperation in areas such as railway construction, telegraph technology, mining, and shipbuilding. Iran agreed to transfer some non-core military and machinery manufacturing technologies to Japan.

For Japan, this treaty represents its most comprehensive and equitable modernization cooperation treaty with a non-Western country since the Iwakura mission's visit to Europe and America, opening another important window for technology import and talent development. For Iran, amidst its international isolation, it expanded its diplomatic space and economic ties in the Far East, gaining a potential distant partner that could counterbalance Russia.

After the signing ceremony, Hirobumi Ito remarked to Takayoshi Kido, "The gains from this trip are no less than those from traveling throughout Europe and America. The path to Iran proves that Eastern countries can also forge a path to survival amidst powerful forces through their own wisdom and determination. The key lies in centralizing power to implement reforms, opening up to embrace new knowledge, and without losing the essence of their culture."

(End of this chapter)