'Memorandum. Regarding our future relations with Persia, with special reference to the extension and maintenance of British influence, and to the system of British Consular representation in Southern Persia.' [‎19v] (4/6)

(4) Mohammerah (for Arabist an),
(5) Bushire (for the Gulf and hinterland affairs),
(6) a Resident or Consul in the Bakhtiari country,
each with such Vice-Consuls, or Consular Agents, under them as are neces
sitated by the circumstances of the case. And these Consulates should, I
venture to think, be held by officers of the Indian Political Department, and
the Consulates run on the lines of our Consulates at Seistan, Meshed, and
Kerman.
10 . i ao not propose to enter into any detailed discussion here as to
how the administration of the country may best be conducted in our
sphere of influence under the new regime. Details will naturally differ in
each province, and improvements will be effected as time goes on. But.
generally speaking, we may presume that His Majesty’s Minister will act as
the authoritative adviser to the Persian Government regarding all questions
of administration and policy in Southern Persia ; whilst the Consuls at each
main centre in our sphere of influence will similarly act as the advisers to
the Governors or Goyernors-General, very much as they do at present but
with this important difference, that their advice will now have to be followed
In this respect the situation in Egypt presents certain analogies As regards
finance, a central control will, no doubt, be exercised at Tehran by means of
some system to be agreed upon between Great Britain and Russia - and it
would seem desirable that a “Financial Adviser” (an Englishman of course)
should he appointed to each provincial capital to advise and assist the Persian
Finance Agent m his dunes. Order will be maintained by the Gendarmerie
(or military) force under British officers. But as stated abovV'i, is not
possible to discuss details of the administration here. The important point
is that out . onsuls, working m communication with His Majesty’s Minister
will m future he in a position practically to direct the working of the
administrative machinery in each province, and to see that order s
maintained, and the finances properly conducted.
16. Having submitted this simple proposal for our future svfitmn nf
Consular representation in Southern Persia 1 unukl . sy8teni oi
of wider and more general interest. Brioflv it is this Th* fV 0 a r , matter
inent may very justly claim that in view of the act tint | nf ! ian Gov f. ri1 *
officers to fill the Consulates in Southern Persia and ^ providing
Gendarmerie force • that it bears half * r ia \ ai to or S' au ise a new
in times of crisis it provhes tro m C .° 6t ° f ^ establishments ; that,
Southern Persia; and that certain^Iildian"int",' ' V 9 ' HI1Cl re P ress ai i»rchy in
commercial, are intimately bound up with thf i st, ' ate g Ic; f 1 ■ Political and
certain areas in Southern Persia ,T view ,11 T" ° f "f T' 1 a,ld of
considerations it is only ridit ami ; n H i • r 1 ieRe anc ^ ot her similar
Government should retain a voice ami -,h' mtl"" .' h, ’ e " sallle tllat the Indian
of our policy, both in general and’in detail' ' "’ rl at ' ve v 'o | ce, in the conduct
old, old problem of rivalrTlPthese at t . . b ° U ^ er ? 1 ersia - This is the
Governments, which has led in the past to l' 00 '’ ' if ? 0me aiul t,le Indian
and which is responsible at, this moment for f ' I’ 10 ! 1011 ani1 difficulty,
standing, and for couliicting policies and inst "'?• confufi ‘ ori an d misunder-
be generally agreed that il Ime svstenT n b'X '-“d , And . 1 h ' viU
or rather (to use a more suitable and le s 0 fif vi, ’ e d wherebj- this rivalry,
undefined authorities can be satisiaetofif , IIV " llous ' e ™) this clashing of
to the advantage of our ImperiaT a, d ? ,m l nated > il Wl11 be greatly
whole. ! ’ and es l>ecially of our eastern interests as a
difficulty; but^’logiranTp^ht'^fo r! y tW0 lo ^ ical solutions of the
together, I merely state them here not n ° ' u “ ces ®i* rll y or even usually run
the air for some further remarks on the eidoXX*'' 0 '™’ but IllPrel >' to cleal '
Persia,"and the pwlnXoM^mfefth^ d?e from Northern
■nent. I have referred to this question m an C °7 ° f ' lle Tlldiari Govern-
adude to it again in pursuance of my general aXurneiltT 8 * 111 ' 11 and niere,} '