ملف رقم ٤٣٤٥ لسنة ١٩١٢ "السكة الحديدية العابرة لبلاد فارس" [و‎‎٥‎٩] (٣٣٠/١٢٢)

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
I [February 4.j
CONFIDENTIAL.
[54973/12] No. 1.
Foreign Office to Sir W. F. Garstin.
Sir, Foreign Office, February 4, 1913.
HIS Majesty’s Government have had under careful consideration the letters which
you addressed to this Department on the 9th and 20th December on the subject of
the Trans-Persian Railway project.
In your letter of the 9th December, while recognising that the attitude of His
Majesty’s Government had hitherto been to reserve complete freedom of action pending
submission of the survey you were to furnish, you intimate that you do not now feel
justified in sending a delegate to Tehran to negotiate, in concert with French and
Russian associates, with the Persian Government; and, before proceeding further, you
ask that indications may be afforded to you on the following points :—
(a.) It would seem essential to learn whether His Majesty’s Government view with favour or
disfavour the prospect of direct railway communication between India and Europe via Russia.
(b.) It would appear desirable to know whether His Majesty’s Government desire British financial
interests to continue co-operation in the Soci^te d’Etudes in spite of such co-operation leading
primarily to facilitating railway construction in Northern Persia only.
(c.) In the event of His Majesty’s Government being already committed to support other
applicants for railway concessions in the British and neutral spheres, it would seem essential to learn
the scope of such concessions.
(d.) In view of the possible advancement of conflicting projects for railway service in the British
and neutral spheres, the British group would be glad to learn whether His Majesty’s Government have
any suggestions as to a solution of the situation which may arise from rival claims in this portion of
Persian territory.
I am now directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to make the following observations
on each of these points :—
(a.) His Majesty’s Government have already expressed themselves prepared to
assent in principle to the project of a Trans-Persian railway: that assent is made
subject to the following, among other, conditions :—
That no part of the line or its connections shall be constructed outside the Russian
sphere until, and in such measures as, His Majesty’s Government shall consider it
politic and feasible ; that the main line must pass through Ispahan by Shiraz, and if
it, or any branch, is continued to the British sphere, it must reach that sphere at I
Bunder Abbas ; that His Majesty’s Government do not think that the time has yet j
come for a connection between Bunder Abbas and Karachi to be made, and as there I
must be no question of making it until His Majesty’s Government consider that the |
time has come when it is desirable, the question of branch and local lines should be |
considered on their merits, and their commercial advantages should not be sacrificed |
to the project of through connection ; that His Majesty’s Government undertake no |
financial guarantee in regard to the project ; that the point where the line touches the
Persian Gulf shall be referred to His Majesty’s Government when the surveys have
been completed, and the arrangements for the maritime terminus, and for its control,
shall be submitted to their approval ; that the question of the gauge outside the
Russian sphere shall be submitted to His Majesty’s Government; that effective means
must be provided, to the satisfaction of His Majesty’s Government, to secure British
trade against differential treatment of any kind, direct pr indirect, on any railway
constructed under a concession obtained by the Societe d’Etudes ; that British control
must predominate in the Southern or Gulf section of any 1 rans-Persian line, or of
the branches, which may be made, and that this control shall not be invalidated by
any arrangement which may be made in regard to the percentage of other (i.e., non-
British) participation in the undertaking. _ . .
(6.) His Majesty’s Government raise no objection, regarding it as yery desirable
on general grounds that the British group should co-operate in the Societe d Etudes,
but they trust that such progress may be made in regard to a well-considered scheme
[2804 d—1]
Section 1.
[A]
PERSIA.