File 3852/1912 Pt 1 'Persia: Trade in South. Conditions on the Bushire - Shiraz Road. Russian commercial competition in S. Persia' [‎78v] (156/368)

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be done in the way of a motor road for the present, but considered that the con*
struction of railway lines from the South Persian ports to the interior had become
a real necessity.
There can be no doubt that each year the need of a railway line, both in the
interests of Great Britain and of British trade from the south, as also in those of
the local population is being more widely realised. But even under the most
favourable circumstances, such as an early solution of the difficulties in connec
tion with the concession for lines from Bandar Abbas and Bushire, can we hope
for the construction of these lines to be begun within five or eight years ? Mean
while the existing difficulties which confront trade from the coast to the interior,
e.g., to Shiraz, are more likely to increase than otherwise, and the value and bulk
of the import trade to Shiraz as well as to Central Persia, will remain limited to
its present proportions, or more probably will become more restricted. For the
breeding of mules for transport purposes seems to have declined all over South
ern Persia; as mules die they are not replaced. The same complaints of dearth
of mules are to hand from the Ahwaz-Isfahan and the Kerman roads.
When the memorandum mentioned above was written, the possibility of
utilising motor traction of the stretch of road between Bushire and f aliki, and
by this means relieving themselves and consignees up-country from the financial
burden caused by thousands of loads of goods lying constantly at Bushire and
failing to reach their destined markets at the proper season, had already begun
to agitate traders in Bushire. Since that date the matter has frequently been
mentioned to me again ; prices of the lorries necessary and capital required have
been asked and, as I see it, the views of those chiefly concerned are hardening
to a decision that until they obtain motor transport there will be no improvement
in their trading difficulties with Shiraz. Some, who are men of some wealth,
say definitely that they will subscribe largely to such a company (always with
the proviso that European capital and management should be obtained as well).
The Governor of the Gulf Ports voiced this view the other day in connec
tion with the instructions that had been sent him by the Minister for Foreign
Affairs at Sir W. Townley’s request, and in pursuance of the approval of His
Majesty’s Government to suggestions made in the memorandum mentioned
above for co-operation between the Persian Governors and British Consular
Officers in obtaining an adequate supply of transport animals. His Excellency
said he considered a motor service greatly needed ; that he had been thinking
over the matter and how the necessary capital could be raised. It was evident
to him that Bushire could only subscribe a small portion of the sum required :
•n Shiraz the merchants were hardly any better off, and such magnates as his
friend Qawam-ul-Mulk were financially embarrassed owing to heavy mortgages
and depreciation of their properties. His Excellency wondered whether the
ruling Khans of the districts in the neighbourhood of Bushire and Daliki, i.e.
Shahbankareh, Hayat Daud, Borasjun, etc., who all had great wealth lym. 0, idle
could be induced to help to finance such a scheme.
This idea, having taken hold of local opinion, will probably spread until it
attracts attention ousjde trading circles in Bushire and Shiraz. Such a prospect
seems to offer a certain amount of danger that interests other than British might
initiate a scheme for motor transport between Bushire and Daliki. For this
reason the local need, and the scheme as a commercial proposition, merit careful
examination by His Majesty s Government and the Government of India
Recent news that motor transport is wofking between Rasht and Tehran is
causing people in these regions to realise possibilities of initiative and their own
wants more than ever. If there be a current of local opinion in favour of motor
transport, then I submit that British interests should put themselves at the head
of such a movement rather than ignore it and run the risk of others putting
forward a scheme. r &
Besides the beneficial effect that motor transport for part of the way to
Shiraz might have on the volume of trade carried up country, it would appear a
distinct advantage for British interests endeavouring to obtain a concession for a
railway connection between Bushire and Shiraz that British interests were already
largely concerned in a motor transport service from Bushire. 7