File 1552/1904 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: Karun Irrigation Scheme.' [‎28r] (61/839)

I repee.t that the Concession is for a century, and whole generations may
benefit by it. Let us hope that our countrymen will rise to the occasion and not
be so short-sighted as they often are.
Abridged translat on of a letter from M. Van Roggen to M. ter Meulen, dated The
Hague, February 1909.
(Dictated by M. P. ter Meulen, Ahwaz.)
. Recent events have afforded me an occasion for renewing my
correspondence with you.
Regarding the irrigation scheme, the Syndicate must be formed within two
years, and the Concession is for 99 years. The General Manager in Europe, the
Secretary, and the Chief Engineer at Ahwaz must be Dutch. The offices of the
company must be in Holland under Dutch jurisdiction. Not more than one-third
of the trustees may be of the same nationality. Foreign financiers may partici
pate freely in the company.
The Concession covers 500,000 hectares and coven the execution of the neces
sary works in rivers and on the bank : 3 on the condition that navigation in summer
be not interfered with in any way.
The Concession may have their own police, which will be recognised by
Persian and Arab authorities. All differences will be settled amicably.
These condition", in addition to some others, are practically my own, and have
been arranged by me in conversation with M. de Sturler.
On 11th January M. de Sturler received a telegram at The Hague, staling that
the Concession had been signed. On 15th I had an audience with the Netherlands
Minister for Foreign Affairs, who promised me every assistance, and I am sure the* j
he will keep his word. I have known him long. You may do much to assist this
enterprise, and I would ask you to visit Shaikh Khazz al and tell him quietly that
the Persian Government have granted a Concession to the Dutch Government to
form this Syndicate, and that the action of the Persian Government has the
approval of the British, R is: Hn, and German Government '., and that the matter
is not one that can be dealt with lightly by him.
We trust that when the “ Commission ” ar ives in Arabistan to treat with
Shaikh Khazz’al about an eventual agreement they will find him amenable.
We fully agree that without his assistance the execution of the work might be
accompanied with trouble, and so the Commission will no doubt make proposals
advantageous to him and to his heirs, for the Concession lasts for 99 years, w e
have no desire but to live and work in harmony with him. Try to find out en 'passant
what he wants, and try to convince him that he will 9e paid part in cash and part m
shares. As regards myself, I may mention that my name has been mentioned as
Adviser to the Department of Public Works of the Persian Government, and should
this come about I shall be able to direct the irrigation project from Tehran.
If only we show more tact than the Belgians we may fairly expect to obtain
a fair hold upon Persia.
Noth.—M. ter Meulen stated that this letter was confidential, but readdy consented to its being
shown to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at An.va:.
A. T. W.
Abstract of a conversation between M. P. ter Meulen and Lieutenant A. 1 . Wilson
on 6 th March 1909.
Irrigation Scheme—M. P. ter Meulen mentioned that Shaikh Hanzel visited
him on the 3rd instant, and referring to the irrigation scheme said that all the land
on both banks of the Karun and Abadan Island were granted to the Shaikh by
firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). in 1901 on payment of £17,000 by Haji Rais wlm was then m Tehran.
The Shaikh would, he said, have to be reckoned with m consequence, and he
asked ter Meulen to go down with him at once to Faihya to see him.