[United Kingdom]
Her Majesty is aghast that the Tsar would compare the annexation and exploitation of Persia to the peaceful colonization of British citizens in otherwise barren lands. The "princely states", a term for our allies and friends in India, are in fact, their own sovereign nations, guaranteed by the British government to be able to maintain their internal affairs. The so-called Indian rebellion was in fact instigated by the misguided rulers of these princely states in order to acquire possessions from Her Majesty's land. This territorial expansionism was put down after some time. The death toll, although large, did not number into the millions, and were mainly composed of British citizens who were targeted by the barbarism of the Indian radicals. The numbers you have heard were fabricated claims made by those who wish to exaggerate the numbers for a more dramatic story.
It is interesting, however, to note that this event is similar to the Persia situation. The Indian states attacked our holdings, and we have retaliated, similar to how the Russians have chosen to invade Persia and remove the Qajars. What is different however, is that we have chosen to allow the states to retain their national sovereignty. That is not to say that we have not punished them for their aggression, as we have placed severe penalties to restrict their raising of a force to threaten nearby states, but we have allowed them to continue governing their own affairs. The Indian people still rule Indian people. Proponents who harbor unreasonable ill-will toward the United Kingdom have been removed to allow the growth of the Indian region.
With our experience at hand, the United Kingdom had hoped to implement a similar scheme in Persia, so that all parties involved will benefit greatly.
The Ultimatum was given to the Qajars in order to restrict them from continuing hostility against both our powers and stop the cause of further death. The relinquishing of their port cities will allow for the easier administration of shipping food in to give to the people of Persia. With it, the reformation of the Persian government and the ushering in of a new era of enlightenment and prosperity of the Persian people under a Just and honorable government.