![File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎83v] (171/330)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000c7/IOR_L_PS_10_307_0171.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎83v] (171/330)")
File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [83v] (171/330)
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.
12
* This Committee consisted of the
Honourable Mr. W. H. Clark, Commercial
Member of Council, Lieutenant-General
Sir D. Haig, Chief of the General Staff,
Sir T. R. Wynne, President of the Railway
Board, and Mr. J. B. Wood, Deputy
Secretary to the Government of India,
Foreign Department.
VII.
Inter-Departmental Committee, appointed by Government of India,' 1 *'
reported 8 th February 1911.
“ . . . . From the purely strategical point of view ... it would
undoubtedly be preferable that India
should maintain her quasi - insular
position and should refuse to co-operate
in any scheme which would tend to
facilitate the transportation of a hostile
Power up to or across her frontier.
We recognise, however, that the
march of events in the Near and Middle
East renders it impossible that this position of_ isolation can be indefinitely
maintained .... From this standpoint it seems to us desirable to
seize the opportunity which the present proposal offers for securing the
conditions which we consider essential rather than to wait until circumstances
may force us to permit the connection on terms which may be less
advantageous.
With regard to the merits of the enterprise from the commercial point of
view, we are in general agreement with the opinions expressed in the letter
from the Board of Trade . . . We do not consider that there is any
likelihood of goods being carried on the railway from the United Kingdom to
India or vice versa . . .We are inclined to doubt also whether the through
passenger traffic on the railway would be of any great magnitude
The proposed line can, therefore, hardly be expected to prove a financial
success ....
“ . . . . We are nevertheless of opinion that having regard to the
desirability of meeting the wishes of the Russian Government and the
importance of obtaining a due share in the control of any railway that may
be made in Persian territory, and in view of the opportunity which now
offers of obtaining concessions for branch lines which are important to us,
both strategically and commercially, the Government of India will be well
advised to accept in principle the proposals of the Russian Consortium,
subject to such conditions in respect of alignment, branch lines, &c., as may
be considered necessary to secure the safety of India and the development of
Indian trade. . . .”
VIII.
Government of India, 23rd February 1911.
“ • . . . We concur generally in these conclusions [i.e., those of the
Inter-departmental Committee], except in regard to a few points as to which
we find ourselves unable to endorse the recommendations of the Committee.
• • With these reservations we commend the Committee’s proposals to
the favourable consideration of His Majesty’s Government.”
0
IX.
Chief of the General Staff, War Office (Field-Marshal
Lord Nicholson, G.C.B., &c.), 26th April 1911.
a . c ^ ear r w hat advantage we shall gain by railway construction in
oouthern^ Persia. Ihe Muhammadan population is small and turbulent, the
country is badly governed, life and property are insecure, and though some
districts are fertile, most of Southern Persia is believed to consist of
mountains and deserts. ... It will always be easier and cheaper to
carry on our passenger traffic and our commerce with India by sea than by
land. ... j j
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [83v] (171/330), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/307, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x0000ac> [accessed 23 April 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x0000ac
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x0000ac">File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎83v] (171/330)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100036625670.0x0000ac"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000c7/IOR_L_PS_10_307_0171.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x0000c7/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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