File 1569/1913 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎247r] (504/594)

Russian lino of communications along the coast, should they endeavour to
advance by the railway. The Greneral Staff point out that such operations
could be carried out effectively by a relatively small force. In view of this
statement of military policy, the Committee can only conclude that the
proposed branches would not afford adequate safeguards in the event of the
main line passing through Kerman.
As regards the probable effect of Kerman being linked up with the main
line if the latter were carried on some other alignment, it is clear from the
General Staff’s Memorandum that, in the event of a war with Russia, we
should not have sufficient troops available for operations in Persia to prevent
a Russian force occupying Kerman sooner or later. It would no doubt
be desirable to delay that occupation as long as possible, but, inasmuch as
the main line would probably have to pass within 50 miles of Kerman,
the delay could not in any case be very great, and the existence or non
existence of a branch connecting Kerman with the main line could hardly
be considered vital.
Our general conclusion, therefore, in regard to the new situation created f
by the information laid before us by Mr. Johns, is that while that inform
ation, by greatly strengthening the case on its commercial side, will no doubt
make it more embarrassing to resist the main line being carried through
Kerman, the military arguments, if they are to be accepted, are conclusive j
in favour of maintaining opposition to that alignment; but we consider that, j 1
if pressed, the Government of India need not very strongly oppose the
linking up of Kerman by a branch with the main line. Mr. Johns’ recon
naissance also affects unfavourably the case for the compromise alignment
via Purg and Ramishk to Chahbar, recommended in the Committee’s second
Report.
The question of alignment, therefore, practically resolves itself into a con
flict between the commercial considerations which demand that the main line
should go via Kerman, and the military considerations which demand an align
ment via Yezd and Bandar Abbas. Wc feel that large questions of military
policy are scarcely within the scope of this Committee, but we cannot take »
the responsibility of recommending that commercial considerations should be
allowed to outweigh military requirements as stated by the responsible
authorities. We would wish to add that, wffiile the position as explained in the i
Memorandum—namely, that only sufficient troops would probably be available
for operations against a Russian advance in Persia from the sea—strengthens
the case for Bandar Abbas from the point of view of Indian defence, it carries
with it the corollary that naval co-operation in hostilities will be of vital im
portance. The Committee observe that the Admiralty have stated their inability
to guarantee the provision of ships for operations in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in the
event of war. They consider that the question of what assistance could be
given by the Admiralty in the provision of escorts for transports, &c., for which
the more modern type of ship would hardly be required, should be taken up
with them in relation to the possibility of combined naval and military opera
tions being necessary, in the case of war with Russia, along the Mekran
littoral.
Indian interests are not so much concerned in the alignment of the rail- (
way beyond Yezd, hut the Committee would take this opportunity of pointing
out the advisability, on commercial grounds, of carrying the main line through
Ispahan, or, if this is impossible, of linking that place with the main line by
the shortest possible branch. With these preliminary remarks the four
subjects under reference are now dealt with seriatim.
I.—Me. Webb’s memoeandum on the most suitable poet.
It may be remarked at the outset that Mr. Webb is a well-known
exponent of the merits of the direct route through Kerman, and his views as
to the shortcomings of Bandar Abbas cannot be regarded as free from a
suspicion of bias.