'A collection of Conventions and Agreements relating to Telegraphs in Turkey in Asia, Persia, the Persian Gulf, and Mekran' [‎29r] (17/36)

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IX. I he transmission of all the transit telegraph messages passing by the Persian lines
between Astrabad and Julfa will take precedence of all private messages from Persian
ielegraph stations, except the otlicial messages of the Persian Government.
X. rhis Convention will be in force for a year from the day of its signature : after the
lapse of this one year should the Ministers of the Persian ami Russian Governments both
deem it suitable to maintain it or to make any changes in it this will be done.
XI. After the completion of the telegraph line from Chekishler to Astrabad, the Russian
Government will make over to that of Persia that part of the said line which shall have been
constructed in Persian territory to be its own property.
XVIII.
Translation of a Telegraph Convention between Russia and Persia,
dated 30th Safar 1298/31 st January 1881.
As the Telegraph Convention of the 12/24th May 1879 contracted between the Ministry
for Foreign Affairs and the Russian Legation at Teheran has expired, and the Ministers of
the Russian Government wish to keep up communications with their military authorities
on the East Coast of the Caspian Sea, the undersigned have agreed upon the following
Article I. In order that the aforesaid communications may pass through without loss
of time, the Persian Government engage to protect, as far as 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 12th May 1879, the lines which have been constructed
on Persian territory have become the property of the Persian Government, who now engage
to protect them and keep them in working order ; that is to say their “ exploitation, and
horsemen who are employed to protect the telegraph lines will accompany the Russian
telegraph employes on their inspection of these lines.”
If. The Russian Government on their side engage 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 engage 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.
III. The Persian Government will give permission for stationing Russian telegraph officers
at Persian stations from Julfa to Chekishler, wherever 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 12th May 1879.
IV. For messages in transit between Julfa and Astrabad, and also between Russian
stations on the eastern side of the Caspian and Teheran 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, between Russian stations on
the east of the Caspian, and the south of Teheran 60 centimes will be paid to the Persian
Government.
V. The transmission of all Government messages passing over Persian lines between
Astrabad and Julfa will take precedence of all private messages from Persian telegraph
stations, but not the official messages of the Persian Government.
VI. In order that no delay should take place in the transmission of messages between
Julfa and Astrabad the lines must be inspected and repaired, therefore the Persian Govern
ment engage to set aside one-tenth of the amount received by Persia for messages in virtue
of this convention, for the necessary repairs, and the Persian Telegraph Department shall
expend that sum in making the said repairs, unless in the case of its being found that so
large a sum is not required for the purpose.
VII. This convention will be in force so long as the Russian Government requires to
keep up telegraphic communication with its military authorities on the eastern coast of the
Caspian and, when no longer necessary for such communication, the Russian Government will
without delay inform the Persian Government of the fact.
[Translated by Harry L. Churchill.]
XIX.
Indo-European Telegraph Company, Limited.
English translation of the Persian Concession, 1868.
Copy of the Concession for erecting and working a direct Anglo-Indian Telegraph Line,
sanctioned by His Majesty the Shah of Persia on the 11th January 1868.
1 . The Persian Government hereby grants to Messrs. Siemens and Halske, of Berlin
and of St. Petersburg, and to Messrs. Siemens Brothers, of London, an exclusive concession
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