File 3852/1912 Pt 2 'Persia. Conditions in South Persia. German Documents' [‎294v] (220/280)

156
Confidential letter from the Indian Government to the Marquess
of Crewe, dated January 22 nd, 1914-
Confidential.
Government of India to the Marquess of Crewe.
Delhi, January 22, 1914.
My Lord Marquess,
With reference to your Lordship’s telegram of the 171
November, 1913, we have the honour to submit the following
remarks in regard to the prospect of Russian trade competition
in Southern Persia, as adumbrated in Mr. Chick’s memorandum
which accompanied Sir P. Cox’s despatch No. 14, Commercial,
dated the 28th September, 1913, addressed to the London
Foreign Office.
2. We entirely agree as to the desirability of taking all
reasonable steps to facilitate and encourage trade from the
south on the Bushire—Shiraz—Ispahan line, not only in the
interests of Indian commerce, but on political grounds, as a
safeguard against the extension of Russian trade, and thereby
of Russian influence from the north. But we are confronted
with the difficulty of devising practical measures, the cost of
which is not prohibitive.
3. It is satisfactory to note that there has been of late a
marked improvement in the general security of the route in
question. This should give a stimulus to Indian trade enter
prise, which is at present sadly apathetic. Another satisfactory
feature is the reduction in the rates of carriage effected by
the mule hire agreement. Against these, however, must be
set the very serious diminution of transport animals, which
cramps and cripples such enterprise as there is. To combat
this Mr. Chick proposes —
(1.) To organise transport and systematise transport con
ditions ;
(2.) To employ donkeys and camels on the Shiraz —Ispahan
road, as accessories to mules, more extensively than
at present.
Ihese measures, he recommends, should be effected by
cooperation between His Majesty’s consular officers at Shiraz
and Bushire and the local authorities. With this we are in full
agreement. The organisation of transport service on theNushki —