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File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [61v] (127/330)
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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
France, it is true, would not be predominant on either section, but as she has no
territorial interests, this is not a fatal objection. Moreover, on the principle laid down
in the statutes of the societe, she would only be entitled to one-third control, and this
the above scheme gives her on both sections of the line.
It is possible that a slight amendment of the statutes of the societe would be
required to give effect to such a distribution of control as I have suggested, but there
should, I think, be no difficulty in this if the main principle of equality is preserved.
If, however, objection is raised and prevails, this fact will prove that it is unsafe
for us to go on, and that the British group should be discouraged from proceeding
further.
I have not gone in this letter into the obvious reasons why we think British
predominance in the southern section of the line imperative. They are to a large
extent the same as those which led us to the same conclusion with regard to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
section of the Bagdad Railway. In particular there would be little
difficulty in securing fair treatment for British trade over the line as a whole if one
section of it is in British hands, while the difficulty of ensuring such equality if we
are in a permanent minority in the management of the whole line is very great indeed.
If you concur in the general view I have indicated I hope that the point will be
clearly brought out in the reply which is now being drafted by the Foreign Office to
Sir W. Garstin’s letters of the 9th and 20th December, 1912.
In these circumstances the reply to the enclosure in Sir W. Garstin’s letter of the
15th January would appear to be that there is no proposal under consideration which
would diminish the right of the French group to control one-third of the capital of
any company formed under a concession obtained by the Societe d’Etudes.
Yours very trulv, ,
H. LLEWELLYN SMITH.
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' [61v] (127/330), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/307, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x000080> [accessed 16 April 2024]
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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