File 240/1913 'Mohammerah - Khoremabad Railway; the Khor Musa agreement' [‎69r] (142/452)

I This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Governmpnt. ]
[A]
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[8021]
j *
No. 1.
Foreign Office to Sir W. Garstin.
[February 24.J
Section 4.
Sir, Foreign Office, February 24, 1913.
I AM directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 18th instant on the subject of the Trans-Persian Railway project.
Sir E. Grey fully recognises that the project, in its present form, somewhat differs
from the lines upon which it was originally drawn up, but he thinks that, on further
consideration, it will be evident that the modifications are of a nature favourable to the
“societe.” The commercial advantages of through connection between Europe and India
are far from being indisputable, and it is obvious that the alignment now proposed is
likely to render the scheme a more profitable investment than a more direct route.
I am now to refer seriatim to the points enumerated in your letter:—
(a.) You submit that, “ having stipulated for Government control, and insisted on
an alignment suited to political requirements,” His Majesty’s Government should not
at the same time exclude the possibility of financial assistance in the future.
I am to point out that the expression “ Government control ” in this reference
does not appear to be altogether borne out by the terms of my letter of the 4th February,
whereas the alteration of the alignment to one “ suited to political requirements ”
conveys an inadequate idea of what has in effect been suggested, since the alteration in
question would result in the line being diverted from an arid desert to a region which
is relatively populous, and therefore more suited for railway enterprise. Such being
the case, Sir E. Grey fails to appreciate why the circumstances to which you allude
should render a British Government guarantee more necessary; indeed, he is rather
led to the opposite conclusion.
( 6 .)—(2.) In regard to this point, Sir E. Grey would recall to you the following
sentence in my letter of the 23rd November :—
“ While Sir E. Grey cannot but regard the question as somewhat premature, he
recognises that, if railways are built in regions adjacent to those traversed by the line
you have in view, then means should be found for securing through traffic, destined to
pass on to, or coming from, your system, against unfair manipulation on railways
outside your direct control.”
I am to add that the desire of His Majesty’s Government is to promote co-opera
tion amongst British commercial interests in Persia. You will, however, recognise that
the time and conditions of the Kerman-Bunder Abbas line are matters which are not
devoid of all political bearing.
(3.) His Majesty’s Government have no objection to furnishing to you a list of
persons forming the Persian Railways Syndicate. They are submitting that list to the
secretary of the syndicate for revision, and it is hoped that it may be communicated to
you very shortly. The lines in which the syndicate are interested are the following :—
(a.) From Mohammerah to Khoremabad.
( 6 .) From Bunder Abbas to Kerman.
(c.) From Bushire, via Aliabad, to some point on a line.
(d.) From Bunder Abbas, via Shiraz, to Ahwaz.
Sir E. Grey recognises that the line under {d) now coincides to some extent with
the suggested main line of the Trans-Persian Railway, but he thinks that it will be
possible to come to a satisfactory arrangement with the Persian Railways Syndicate in
respect of this portion of the line.
The last paragraph of your letter has been replied to in a separate communication
of to-day’s date.
I am, &c.
LOUIS MALLET.
[2804 aa—4]