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File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎80r] (164/330)

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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. .

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If that attempt has been successful, then, in order to justify British
encouragement of the scheme, we are driven back on the first reason
suggested on page 1, viz., the desire to please the Russian Government. If
it is really the case that the withdrawal of our encouragement will endanger
the entente, and if the European position, and the position of Great Britain
in international politics, are therefore such as to make it necessary— even in
the face of the dangers and disadvantages indicated by two successive Chiefs
of the Imperial General Staff—to come into line with Russia (a matter of which
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. has no cognizance), there is nothing more to be said.‘ :;: '
If the scheme is to be abandoned.
But if that is nut so, and the question is still open, it is for consideration
whether His Majesty’s Government should not take the first opportunity of
receding from a policy which is so likely to develop to their disadvantage.
There are four ways in which this can be done :—
( 1 .) The Russian Government can be frankly informed that after further
full consideration His Majesty’s Government are satisfied that the time is not
ripe for the scheme, which cannot, in any conditions that can be foreseen
within a reasonable period, be expected to pay, and entails other incon
veniences and responsibilities which we are unwilling to incur except in return
for advantages of which this scheme offers no certainty. It might be suggested
that, leaving this more ambitious proposal to the future, the tv\m Bowers
should in the meantime confine themselves to, and at once take in hand,
railway development in their own spheres, and, by joint agreement, in the
neutral sphere. If the larger scheme is really “ inevitable ” it will come of
itself when the lines more immediately profitable have been constructed.
At the same time it would be necessary to deal with the question of a
loan to Persia; for, as Lord Crewe has pointed out, by agreeing that the
Societe d’Etudes should also be the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. for floating a loan, we have put
into Russia’s hands the means of exerting great pressure on us ; since, if the
Societe find the money, we can hardly object to their having the concession.
This is a most important consideration, and must be borne in mind, even if
the view taken m this memorandum is not accepted, and the scheme is
proceeded with. If the Societe find the money now and produce a scheme
which contains features objectionable to India, the pressure to sacrifice
Indian interests will be very severe. .
(2.) To make it impossible for the British group to go on. Phis can be
done either:—
(a) By telling them—or letting them understand in reply to the diiect
question asked in Sir W. Garstin’s letter of 9 th December that His
Majesty’s Government regard the scheme with disfavour ; or
(b) By telling them, in reply to that letter and the letter of 20th December,
that His Majesty’s Government can give them no further guidance
and cannot promise support to any particular scheme befoiehand
a rather dangerous course seeing that, if the British group went
on in spite of this discouragement, a concession in terms
inconvenient to us might be possibly carried through by Russian
pressure at Tehran and forced upon us ;
(c) By informing the British group at once of oui conditions and making
them so stringent that it will not be worth while to pioceed.
(d) By encouraging the Persian Railways Syndicate to adopt a non
possumus attitude as regards branch lines. I he British group
have stated that the main line will depend for its success on the
traffic brought by certain branches, of which it is understood that
they attach special importance to one from Bunder Abbas to
Kerman. On the other hand His Majesty’s Government are under
a binding obligation to support the Persian Railways Syndicate m
respect of certain lines in Southern Persia, of which the Bunder
Abbas-Kerman Iiiig is ons. Obviously tliGrcfor© it is essential that *
* Except that, as between Indian and Imperial revenues, the situation indicated m India
Office letter of 6th April 1911 will thus have arisen and if Indian frontiers are made more
vulnerable by a scheme of railway extension, which Imperial policy and the attitude of His
“ Majesty’s Grovemment towards European Powers force upon the acceptance of India, her
“ claims upon the Imperial Exchequer will be strong.”

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.

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English in Latin script
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File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎80r] (164/330), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/307, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x0000a5> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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