File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎7r] (18/744)

Sir G. Barclay to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received February 6 )
(No. 2.) * ’’
^ r ’ T TTKATjr i . , . Tehran, January 21, 1911.
^ ^ le . ^ 0I10ur to transmit herewith copy of the note which, in accordance
W a th ^ nstru ^ 1 ons contained m your telegram No. 16 of the 19th January, I have
to-day addressed to the Persian Government in reply to its note of the 28th December
last, respecting the re-establishment of order on the Bushire—Ispahan road.
I have, &c.
G. BARCLAY.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Sir G. Barclay to Mohteshem-es-Saltaneh.
M. le Ministre, January 21, 1911.
1 DID not fail to communicate to my Government the Vazir Zadeh’s note of the
28th December, and I have been instructed to inform your Excellency that His
Majesty’s Government have learned with satisfaction that the Persian Government is
taking special measures to restore order on the southern roads. Reports from His
Majesty’s consular officers show, however, that the diminution of robberies on the main
route from Bushire to Shiraz which has characterised the past few weeks is due not so
much to any arrangements so far made by Soulet-ed-Dowleh for the guarding of the
road, as to the unusual severity of the weather. Until therefore the execution of the
measures decided upon by the Persian Government has made more progress, His
Majesty s Government are unable to judge whether these measures are likely to form
an acceptable substitute for the scheme outlined in my note of the 14th October.
Meanwhile, however, His Majesty’s Government recognise in the Persian Govern
ment’s decision to take these measures evidence that it is determined to do its utmost
to restore order on the southern trade routes, and are therefore disposed to defer
pressing their scheme on the Persian Government pending the results of the further
development of the measures in question.
I am to state, however, that it must be clearly understood that His Majesty’s
Government will reconsider this expectant attitude in the event of a recrudescence of
disorders on the Bushire-Ispahan road, and that they reserve the right to insist on the
engagement of British-Indian officers at any moment should His Majesty’s Government
perceive that the measures taken by the Persian Government are not likely to suffice
for the prompt re-establishment of security.
With regard to the proposed customs surcharge, I am instructed to point out to
your Excellency that the surcharge would be virtually a tax on British trade. His
Majesty’s Government consider the imposition of this additional burden, in the circum
stances, justifiable as a temporary expedient if British officers are responsible to the
Persian Government for the organisation of the force, the cost of which the surcharge
was designed to meet. They cannot, however, consent to it merely as a means of
enabling the Persian Government to attempt to perform a duty which ought to be a
fixed charge on the ordinary Persian revenues, without any guarantee that the attempt
will be successful.
I avail, &c.
G. BARCLAY.
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