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File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [64r] (132/330)
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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2
-ation in Europe may have on our relations with Russiain even the
near future, and where railways are in question we must look many
years ahead, for once laid they are seldom if ever taken uo. A hostile
Russia using every artifice to her own advantage, in trade, in railways,in
political influence and in the furtherance of her ambition to get a Port
on the Southern sea, will not be prevented except bv a strong Positive
pol^^y wnich can be clearly understood. But that policy must be directed
towards the furtherance of our interests as well as the limitation of
Russian ambitions. In the mattr of railway development, our commercial
and strategical interests can fortunately coincide. The Kerman and Sistan
districts have great possibilities of future development which will be
facilitated by the shortest and therefore the cheapest rail transport to
the sea. Trade with the Shiraz district can best find its outlet at Bandar
Abbas or Sushire. The flow of trade can be directed, if we wish, in these
directions. The present trade or caravan routes owe their existence to rel-
-ative security and the amount at cost of transport available, and. these
conditions can be assurea by railway lines running inland from the coast,
generally in a Northerly direction and avoiding the East & West direction
which is strategically objectionable. With these lines built and the flow
of trade firmly estab1ishedon them, we should secure the bulk of the trade
of S. Persia, which will increase enormously under stable government, and
there would be no excuse for Russia to press for connections which she
Dould only desire for hostile reasons. The proposed lines would include
Khur Musa - JChurramabad, Bushire - Firuzabad - Shiraz, Bandar Abbas - Shirs./
Bandar Abbas - Rigan - Kirman, and Sistan - Guatar (or further East).
[‘he effect would be to deflect Russia’s attention more to the Nest and to
completion of a line joining with us at Khurramabad, to which there seems
Little objection.
If the recommendations made in the
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.
mem., so far as they
lo, can be given effect to and if successive Governments in future can be
relied on to maintain a continuous policy and insist on their warnings
>eing listened to, with better . results than have lately attended
such "warnings” in Persia, all might be well. It would however be prefer-
■afcle to define the situation more precisely vis a vis Russia. This means
i reconsideration of the 1 07 Convention as a preliminary to the ultimate
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' [64r] (132/330), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/307, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x000085> [accessed 23 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