File 1569/1913 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎76r] (162/594)

NOTE ON GENERAL SIR P. LAKE'S SECRET MEMORANDUM OF JUNE 6
1913.
Headings numbered 2, 3 and 4 contain views and deductions that are really ^
worthless, as they are based on misconception and even on ignorance of the
interpretation of our treaty with Russia of 1907.
^ The Commander-in-Chief appears to have forgotten the contents of the
despatch that he signed on February 23rd, 1911, which contained the folio win
condition :—
“ That, in return for our co-operation in the main project, Russia should
c pledge herself not to entertain or support, without coming to an understand-
“ ing with Great Britain, any proposal for a line in the neighbourhood of the
“ Perso-Afghan border within the Russian or neutral zones*’.
This condition has presumably been communicated to the Russian Govern
ment, and if we fail to meet their views as regards the alignment of the
Trans-Persian Railway, which we know they have always wished should
pass through Kerman and which is the obvious route, surely it is unnecessary
to reproach them with the malicious and unfriendly intention of building a
railway to Meshed and southwards when they simply proclaim their full liberty
of action in that direction. Further, even if Russia were to build a line to
Meshed and southward, there is no question of “ the length to which she is
“ prepared to go in disregard of the Convention”, since she is perfectly entitled
by the Convention to do so. Consequently the deduction made in paragraph 4 i
from the supposed attitude of Russia, as described in paragraphs 2 and 3,
appears to be entirely misplaced. ^
In paragraph 10 it is argued that the danger of a Russian advance from
Meshed southwards is less than an advance via Kerman, since it ct would be
“ dependent on the single line of rail from the Caspian Sea to Askabad”. This is
a curious statement, since an advance via Meshed would have the advantage,
not only of the Trans-Caspian Railway, but also of the Orenburg-Tashkend
Railway, by which troops could be transferred direct from Moscow to Askabad
without even changing carriages.
In spite of any argument brought forward by the Commander-in-Chief,
it is perfectly obvious, from a glance at the map, that a Russian advance
whether by Kerman or Meshed would expose the flank of our position to being
turned; and since it is equally clear that sooner or later the Trans-Persian Rail
way will be constructed, the question arises whether it would not be better to
allow the railway to pass through Kerman and to obtain from Russia a definite
agreement that no line shall be built in the neighbourhood of the Perso-Afghan
border rather than to leave to Russia the right, not only to build a railway
from Yezd to Kerman, but also from Askabad to the neighbourhood of Gazik
on the Afghan border, as in each case she has a perfect right to do ?
To provide however an additional Army of 60,000 men from India is how
ever absolutely out of the question.
H.,—10-6-13.