File 3852/1912 Pt 2 'Persia. Conditions in South Persia. German Documents' [‎265r] (161/280)

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;nt o{ BusiiiR^
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tssian influence J
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proposition In |I
in the Isfahan
:ovince.
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: transgression", ii; : :
and her press® i
Russian trade is:
’ and "not onlyii:
mt elsewhere 1 ),“
rise, espediynfl
whether they tody
’ersian merchants fi:
company
Shiraz and Busk
nsul at Shiraz tel®-
it the scheme 6'-
ds stay here last
creases of Russian 5: -
elsewhere ....
Idea would be that the Company should pose as Persian
Company but that considerable portion of the capital should
be raised in Germany. I scarcely think that the project can
come to anything but it is worth watching.”
In March I9!3 mention is made in a memorandum from
*3 British Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Bushire to Grey of a plan of the Persian
Postmaster General concerning the installation of an automobile
service between Teheran and Shiraz. To this and other pro
posals for promoting British and putting obstacles in the way
of non-British trade the Indian Government takes up an at
titude which is apparent from their communication to the
Foreign Office in London, the most important passages of
which are as follows: —
Confidential. India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. to Foreign Office
( 9837 ) India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , March 4 , 1914 .
Sir
I am directed by the Secretary of State for India in
Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
12 th November last, enclosing copy of a despatch from His
Majesty’s Consul-General at Bushire, covering a memorandum
by his Commercial Adviser on the existing insufficiency of
transport in Southern Persia and the means of improving
it, and also your letters of the 22 nd December, 1913 , and
20 th January, 1914 , forwarding the comments respectively of
the Board of Trade and His Majesty’s Minister at Teheran
on Mr. Chick’s memorandum.
In reply I am to transmit, to be laid before the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a secret letter from
the Government of India containing a statement of their views
on the general position of British commerce in Southern Persia
in relation to the extensionsouthwards of Russian trade influence.
The Marquess of Crewe concurs generally in the opinions held
by the Government of India, and would invite special attention
to the last three paragraphs of their letter.
I remain, &c.
(signed) T. W. Holderness.