‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎158] (481/578)

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PERSIA— Telegraphs —APPENDIX NO. XXXIV—1881.
APPENDIX No. XXXIV.—[-See page 28.]
Translation of a Convention between Russia and Persia for the construction
of a Telegraph Line from Chekishler to Astrabad. —31st January 1881.
As the Telegraph Convention of the yth May 1879* (2nd Jemade es Sanee
1296), contracted between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Russian Lega
tion at Tehran has expired, and the Russian Government wish to keep up commu
nication with their military authorities on the east coast of the Caspian Sea the
undersigned have agreed upon the following articles :—
Article 1.
In order that the aforesaid communications may pass through without loss
of time, the Persian Government engage to protect as far as is in their power such
telegraph wires of the Chekishler-Astrabad line as pass through Persian territory.
In virtue of Article XI of the Convention of the ^th May 1879,* the lines which
have been constructed on Persian territory have become the property of the Persian
Government, which now engages to protect them and keep them in working order,
that is to say, their “ exploitation ” and the horsemen who are employed to protect
the telegraph lines will accompany the Russian telegraph employes on their inspec
tion of these lines.
Article 2.
The Russian Government on its side engages to pay all expenses of repairs to
the wires from Chekishler to Astrabad during the time that this Convention is in
force. The Persian Government also engages not to claim customs duty for any
material and implements which may be necessary for the construction and keeping
in repair of the said line.
Article 3.
The Persian Government will give permission for stationing Russian telegraph
officers at Persian stations from Joolfa to Chekishler whenever they may be deemed
requisite for the transmission of messages in due order and without delay, and
their duties and rights will be the same as those enacted in the Convention of the
l|th May 1879.
Article 4.
For messages in transit between Joolfa and Astrabad, and also between Russian
stations on the eastern side of the Caspian and Tehran, with the Persian telegraph
stations to the north of that place, in conformity with the arrangement of the 2nd
April 1880, between the Governments of Russia and Persia, which is known in
French as the “ Declaration”, the Persian Government is to receive 30 centimes a
word, and between Russian stations on the east of the Caspian and the south of
Tehran 60 centimes will be paid to the Persian Government.
Appendix No. XXNIII,