File 1329/1910 'Persia: Imperial Bank (Seistan Branch)' [‎21v] (46/343)

I should, however, have been content to wait and see the result of the
arransrement now arrived at, though far from complete or satisfactory, before
submitting the question, if Mr. McMurray had not intimated that he might
soon he transferred and raised a doubt whether his successor would he able to
undertake even as much as he has done. In view of this contingency, I think
it would be preferable that the question should be referred to the Head Office
of the Bank, if this has not already been done, so that definite instructions on
the subject may be issued to Mr. McMurray or his successor.
In the case of the Bank agreeing to enlarge its business in the way
proposed, I would suggest that the Tehran office be asked to send to Seistan,
when Mr. McMurray leaves, a Manager with special qualifications for the
work. In conclusion on the subject, I would respectfully submit that if the
Bank declines to allow the Seistan Branch to engage in other than purely
banking business our trading interests would be better served by the first of the
alternatives mentioned in my letter cited (the establishment of a trading
Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. ), than by paying to maintain the local Branch of the Imperial Bank.
(3) In my despatch No. 17, dated 30th March 1908, to His Majesty’s
Charge d’Affaires, I made some other recommendations which I considered
would enhance the usefulness of the Branch of the Imperial Bank in Seistan,
viz :—
(а) The establishment of a regular Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Birjand.
(б) An increase in the capital allotted to the Branch.
Both these steps are very necessary in the interests of our trade.
(4) By whatever Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. goods are got up, their carriage between the
rail head and Persia must in most cases be by the means of Government’s
transport organisation. Por Indian traders and those who have Agents at
Nushki, the present arrangements are no doubt satisfactory, but others
experience great difficulties and delays in getting their goods despatched from
Nushki.
The Manager of the Seistan Branch of the Imperial Bank of Persia in a
letter dated 2nd July 1908, writes as follows :—
“ The merchants (in Kain) seem disposed to improve their commercial
relations with England and India if only better arrangements were made at
Nushki for forwarding their goods.
** Euture prospects depend almost entirely on this ; the route itself would
become quite popular, and trade receive a great impetus if something could
only be done to avoid the awful delay which occurs under the present
arrangements.
“ The few experiments made by Persian merchants unfortunately met
with little success, as the delay in transit caused them great inconvenience and
loss.
“ If the Punjab Bank could only be prevailed upon to appoint an Agent
at Nushki who would take delivery of goods at the Railway Station, pay camel
hire and insist on the contractors producing camels in a given time, the
present delay and inconvenience would disappear. The goods could be sent
to our care, and any expenses incurred by the Agent at Nushki collected
before delivering them to the Consignees. Merchants would then be happy
in the knowledge that they had agents of repute to safeguard their interests
against the camel contractors, and, most important of all, they would, at the
time of orerding their goods, be in a position to say approximately ^ the date
on which their goods would arrive at their destination. This is one of
the first essentials to successful trade, and once it has been achieved one
will be able to say that trade has at last been established. Otherwise, as
things are at present, trade will always he of a spasmodic character and will
depend largely on the experiments of merchants who have not already^ given
this route a trial, and know nothing of the difficulties and delays which are
bound to occur under the present conditions.”
In writing in the strain Mr. McMurray does not overstate the case.
The way in which the organisation of the route could best be improved in this