File 930/1912 'Mohammerah - Khoremabad Railway' [‎167v] (341/396)

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that follow from railway construction, and on the
assimilation of that part of Persia nearest our
borders that a railway might bring about.
(4.) The Chief of the General Staff (Sir D.
Haig) dwelt on the advantages of India’s present
isolation and on the largely increased forces that
Russia might develop on the North-West Frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. pi
India and Afghanistan, if the proposed line were
completed. At the same time he recognised that
other factors might enter into the question, and
argued from this point of view, in favour oi an
alignment via Yezd to Bunder Abbas (direct) am
thence along the sea-coast to Karachi, Bundei
Abbas itself to be fortified and held by troops No
connection between this line and eithei Afghan
istan or northern Baluchistan to be permitted,
and the extension of Russian or Persian railways
through Afghanistan to be more strongly resisted
than ever.
(5.) The President of the Railway Board (Sir T.
Wynne) dwelt on the essential differences between
the proposed line and the 1 rans-Siberian Railway,
which “ connects Europe by a short route with a
“ large cosmopolitan population in the 4 ai East,
“ and opens up a cheaper route than the sea-route
“ for trade commodities.’ He referred to the
reduction m steamer fares that the proposed line
would probably have to face, and considered that
the possibility of goods traffic being carried between
England and India was quite out of the question.
But, apart from its commercial and financial aspect,
the project had to lie considered in relation to the
political situation, and he suggested “ that the
“ attitude of India towards this matter should
Memorandum by tbe General Staff, 3rd
January 1911.
(Enclosure No 4.)
Memorandum by Sir T. Wynne, 6 th
January 1911.
(Enclosure No. 5.)
Note to ditto, 20th February 1911.
(Enclosure No. 7.)
“ be—
“ qf.) To cordially accept and support the pro-
“ posal that an international line should be made
“ from Seistan to Baku.
“ (2.) To assist in this project India would build
“ at once, with its own funds, the line from Nushki
“ to Seistan and include it in her railway system.
“ The gauge of this line at the present time to be
“ left to India to decide, but it should be made an
“ essential point that a break of gauge should
“ occur at Seistan junction.
“ (3.) The sole right to make railways in Persia
“ should be secured by the concessionaires of the
“ international line, and all branches should be
“ built internationally.
“ (4.) The basis on which railway rates are to
“ be charged should be a matter for future con-
“ sideration and agreement.
“ (5.) Detailed surveys of the Nushki-Seistan
“ line should be put in hand at once.”
He also urged the desirability of actual con
struction by Indian officers of the railways from
Bunder Abbas to Kerman and Bushire to Ispahan.