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File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [29r] (62/330)
The record is made up of 1 volume (163 folios). It was created in 1911-1913. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
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1 ^
CONFIDENTIAL
£>?r G. Buchanan to Sir Edward Grey .— (Received March 3, 8 a.m.)
/XT __ v St. Petersburgh, March 2, 1913.
^°* 4 (March 2, 8'30 p.m.)
YOLR telegram No. 173 of 27th February.
.In the course of conversation yesterday I explained to the Minister for Foreign
Affairs that as Moscow was 150 miles nearer than Constantinople to Ispahan there
could he no danger of through traffic being diverted to the Bagdad Railway, and that
the northern route could he made still more direct were European traffic to branch off
west at Rostov instead of passing by Moscow. While admitting the latter contention,
his Excellency expressed some incredulity as to the correctness of our calculations, and
said that he would have the figures looked into. I then once more reverted to the
advantages of our alignment, pointing out that as the projected railway must in any
case enter our sphere at Bunder Abbas it would be impossible to induce British
financiers to co-operate in building what must prove an unproductive railway through
the desert by Yezd when there was a far better, though somewhat longer, alternative route
by Ispahan. One could not, I said, in a thinly populated country like Persia fix
alignment, as had been done in the case of St. Petersburgh-Moscow Railway, by
drawing a straight line from one town to another.
Though I could not get him to commit himself to acceptance of our proposal, he
showed himself far less hostde to it than on the last occasion. On my remarking
that the best way to block German railway extension would be for us to co-operate in
carrying out at once the scheme you had proposed, he merely said it might be well
were we to undertake the construction of a line from Ispahan to Khoremabad. He
even _ once suggested that we might drop the larger scheme altogether, and that
Russia might construct line to Tehran while we constructed some line in the south.
As I gathered that his object in suggesting this was to prevent our sea-borne goods
being brought north, I remarked that Persian Government might refuse concession for
the line to Tehran except as part of a trunk line to the south. I hardly think it is
likely that he will put forward such a proposal seriously, but if he does, what line do
you wish me to take up ? I will act on your telegram No. 176 / on the
first opportunity.
COPY TO lO'MA
7 MAR 1913
SECRETARY'S N2 1 0
About this item
- Content
This volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, printed reports, a press cutting and a map, relating to the connection of the railway system of Europe to the railway system of India by the construction of railway lines through Persia.
The discussion in the volume relates to the proposal of a Russian consortium and the response of the Government of India to this proposal. A Report (No. 18 of 1911' folios 144 - 160) notes that the Government of India would do well to accept in principle the Russian proposal subject to a number of modifications. A map entitled 'Indexed Map Showing Proposed Railways in Persia' (folio 160) accompanies the report. Suggested modifications included:
- the point of intersection of the trans-Persian railway with the Indian railway system (British preference for Karachi); and concessions for branch lines (Bandar Abbas, Charbar, Mohammerah);
- the requirement that both main and branch lines in Persian territory be deemed international with Russia and Britain holding preponderant shares and Persia included as a participant;
- and the use of a different gauge railway in the British and Russian zones. As a quid pro quo for their support on this matter Britain expected the Russians to cease any consideration of extending the Trans-Caspian Railway to the Persia-Afghan border.
Also discussed are the negotiations about a loan between the Société des Études du Chemin de Fer Transpersan and the Persian Government and a suggestion that the British and French governments should guarantee a substantial loan by securing it against the crown jewels.
The following topics are also discussed: the Foreign Office proposal to refer the whole question of railway development in Persia to the Committee of Imperial Defence; a draft application for the concession; a memorandum by Brigadier General A H Gordon; dispatch of instructions to His Majesty's Ambassador at St Petersberg on the attitude of the Her Majesty's Government; the view of the Sir G Buchanan on the attitude of the Russian Government to the question of alignment.
The principal correspondents in the volume include: His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, the Earl of Crewe; Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, E H S Clark; His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Sir Edward Grey; the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox; the President of the Railway Board; Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan.
This volume includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (163 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 4345 (Trans-Persian Railway) consists of 1 volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 163; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [29r] (62/330), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/307, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x00003f> [accessed 12 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/307
- Title
- File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:42v, 43v:159v, 161r:162v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence