File 3874/1908 'Railways:-Trans-Persian Railway.' [‎188r] (377/536)

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tions, and that the pourparlers between the two Governments wi 1 result m an ear y
agreement The need for the construction of the proposed railways as a block to
extensions'of the Bagdad Railway in Persia is indeed no longer so urgent, m view of the
altered prospects of that railway, due to the recent revolution m 1 urkey, but there i
always the chance of a competitor coming forward with railway projects for the neutra
zon e y to take effect on the expiry of the Russian Railwaj Agreement m 1910, and it
would be well that we should approach the Persian Government as soon as possible, if
for no other reason, to forestall other possible applicants for concessions, a step which
need not necessarily involve the immediate commencement of construction wore.
I observe that the Russian Government regard the moment as favourable owing
to the lull in German activity due to recent events in Turkey. To this I think may be
added another reason for considering the present moment to be opportune. Obscure as
is the political outlook in Persia to-day, it may yet be predicted with confidence that if
she is left to herself, the trend will be towards a really constitutional regime, and with
the anti-foreign, and especially anti-Anglo-Russian, attitude of the late Aledjliss fresh in
our memory, it is much to be hoped that the concession will be obtained before a really
popular Assembly is re-established. i? m ,
Viewed from the purely Persian point of view, the early construction of railways!
highly desirable; their existence would put a powerful weapon in the hands ot e
Central Government for the pacification of, and the consolidation of their authority in,
regions where that authority is to-day a mere shadow and can be set at nought with
impunity. Nor would the Persian Government alone benefit by railways, tor their
construction and maintenance would give employment to numbers of the inhabitants,
while the development which may reasonably be expected ot the resources particulaiy
agricultural, of the district traversed by the line could not fail to contribute to the
prosperity of the population, and should tend to the establishment of a better equmbimm
between imports and exports, and thereby to a commercial stability which could not but
react favourably on the general condition of the country. It is in consideration ot the
great importance attached by His Majesty’s and the Eussian Governments to the
existence in Persia of political tranquillity and commercial security, to both ot which
railway construction would materially contribute, that I have laid stress on this latter
aspect of the question. Its consideration, however, gives rise to the reflection as to the
effect likely to be produced by the passage of a railway through his territory on the
position of the Sheikh of Mohammerah, in view of the special relations existing between
him and His Majesty’s Government, and I submit that the opinion of His Majesty s
Consul-General at Bushire would be a valuable one on this point, as well as in regard to
the general effect of the proposed railway on British interests south of the Bussian
zone - . • p i + i
I notice that the Russian Government consider that the question of a large external
loan to Persia should be considered simultaneously with that of the proposed railway.
Mr. Marling has dealt so fully with this passage in the aide-memoire that I need say no
more than that M. Bizot, when I saw r him a day or two ago, was as far as ever from
feeling in a position to apply for even the proposed joint advance of 400,000/.
I have, &c.
(Signed) G. BARCLAY.