File 948/1909 'Persia: Situation in the South; Condition of the Roads. Attack on Mr Bill. Road Guard Scheme.' [‎94r] (192/744)

But as the proposal contained in the above-mentioned note is contrary to the
undoubted independence of the Persian Government, the friendly relations and the
ami y w ic up ti 1 now nave existed between the two Governments, the Persian
Government can never under any circumstances consent to it. But as, on the other
hand, the 1 ersian Government take particular note of the anxiety of His Maiesty’s
Government respecting the commercial highways, and as the Persian Government
consequently regard the maintenance of their own independence and the removal of
His Majesty s Government’s anxieties on this score as identical, they consider it
desirable that this 10 per cent, tax should be levied on the customs by the Persian
Government themselves and be expended on the necessary increase of security.
Persian Government therefore request His Majesty’s Government, through
the medium of your Excellency, that they should give their support to the accomplish
ment of this aim , and as this request of the Persian Government is made with the
object of developing commerce, and the Persian Government consider its fulfilment
necessaiy for the maintenance of the very same security which you mentioned, its
acceptance should be hastened.
Before concluding this note I consider it necessary, in order to prove that
commerce has not suffered, to draw the attention of His Majesty’s Government to the
extraordinary increase of the customs receipts from the south. Without, however,
entirely denying that in recent times there have been any kind of troubles and
obstacles in the way of means of commerce between Persia and England, I consider
that it is shown by the statistics of customs revenue that no real commercial losses
have been sustained by British subjects, while, on the other hand, the increase of
100,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. in the Arabistan customs receipts in the year “ Takagoui-il ” (1909-10),
as compared to the previous year, and the extraordinary increase during the present
year, conclusively proves that southern commerce has only been temporarily diverted
from its former channel.
Furthermore, the whole of Persia’s commercial imports during last year showed
an increase of about 19 per cent, over those of the year “Pichi-il” (1908-9), and
during the five months of the present year an increase of 20 per cent, is shown.
In view of the facts above stated, the Persian Government are of opinion that
foreign subjects have no cause of complaint regarding commerce with Persia.
(Usual ending omitted.)
(L.S.)
HUSSEIN NULL