‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎31] (48/578)

PERSIA— Telegraphs.
31
The British Government agreed to pay the Persian Government a sum
of £5,000 towards the cost of construction, and £300 a year from the
date of the commencement of the work up to 1945, towards the main
tenance of these lines: the maintenance to remain in the hands of the
Indo-European Telegraph Department officials up to 1945. In return
for these financial considerations the Persian Government agreed that
the period of the Telegraph Conventions of 18G8, 1872 and 1901 (Nos.
XXIX, XXXI and XXXIII) should be extended to the 1st January
1945*.
During 1915-1916 the section of the line from Borasjun to Bandar
Rig was practically demolished by rebel tribesmen, and remained inter
rupted until the middle of 1920, when communication with the main
Tehran-Bushire line was re-established by connecting Bandar Rig with
Bushire by way of Ahmedy. The total cost of constructing this latter
section, and of erecting an extra wire on the main Tehran-Bushire line
from Ahmedy to Bushire, was borne by the Persian Government.
Sistan-Koh-i-Malik Siah Line. In 1914 the construction of a tele
graph line, connecting Sistan with the Central Persia Line at a point
near Koh-i-Malik Siah, was authorised by the Persian Government
pending the conclusion of an agreement with the British Government.
The Agreement (Xo. XXXVI) was signed and ratified in 1916. Tinder
Article 2 the total cost of the line, less £2,500, is repayable by the Persian
Government in thirty years, the Indo-European Telegraph Department
being responsible for the control and the cost of maintenance. It was
also agreed that, after the control of the line had passed to the Persian
Government, it would not be handed over to any Eoreign Government
or Company, but that it might be handed back to the Indo-European
Telegraph Department by special arrangement agreeable to the parties
concerned. In 1916 a second wire was added to this line in accordance
with the terms of Article 3 of the Agreement.
Bandar Abbas-Kerman and Baft-Saidabad Lines. In 1913 the ques
tion of the Indo-European Telegraph Department constructing a line of
telegraphs between Bandar Abbas and Kerman on behalf of the Persian
Government was considered. Early in 1916 a project for the construc
tion of a line to connect Kerman, Bandar Abbas, Lingeh and Jask was
discussed between the Director, Indo-European Telegraph Department,
and the Persian Minister of Telegraphs; but no definite agreement was
arrived at. In August it was decided that the work on the line from
Bandar Abbas to Kerman should be started as soon as possible and that
it was unnecessary to await an agreement with the Persian Government.
* The terms of the Agreement provided that it should be submitted for approval
to the Majlis save in the case of Article 3, by which the concessions wei’e prolonged
till 1945 and which was sanctioned by the Cabinet and specifically excepted from
the number of Articles to he submitted for Majlis’ approval. Those Articles have
not in fact ever been submitted to or ratified by the Majlis.
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