File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎112r] (228/330)

A Until the British group are in possession of definite information on these points, they
trust that Sir Edward Grey will recognise their inability to form any satisfactory
conclusions as to the circumstances in which they are placed.
<n It was in the hope of elucidating the views of Sir Edward Grey that communications
were addressed to the Foreign Office on the 4th and 18th ultimo. Sir Louis Mallet s
"Vnfidential letter of the 23rd November recapitulates reservations already mentioned,
but fails to afford the British group any practical indications as to the attitude they
are to assume in the arrangements which must now be discussed with the French and
"Russian associates. . i //~h\ o- w-ir
Xhe texts of the two documents forming enclosures (A) and (0) to Sir Y\ imam
•Garstin’s letter of the 4th November were put forward in order to invite suggestions m
regard to tariff and other questions, and it was hoped, if the texts of these two dopuments
proved unacceptable to Sir Edward Grey, that he would see his way to indicating such
modifications and additions to the texts as would meet with his approval so that the
British group might lay these amended documents before the Societe d Etudes ±01
consultation as to the procedure to be followed. ^ t
21*As to the text of enclosure (A) above mentioned, we^would point out that m tie
course of the informal exchange of views which have from time to time taken p ace, the
British group have been led to understand that there would be objection to the mam
line passing through Kerman-this objection, possibly not applying with the same force
to a"branch. Consequently the Soci4t4 d’Etudes may be obliged to contemplate an
alignment nearer the sea, conceivably even following the littoral for a short distance..
In these circumstances it would seem unreasonable to debar the Irans-Persian Railway
from access to the sea. _ . i ,
We understand that His Majesty’s Government are concerned at the general terms
in 'which application has been made for maritime facilities in the draft note to the
Persian Government. The British group would therefore suggest the insertion m the
text of a clause providing that the points where such maritime faci ities are granted,
in the south must be subject to agreement between the Persian and Bntish Gov
"Alt is hoped that this modification in the draft note will enable His Majesty s
Government to lend the “socifitfi” their diplomatic support on the point m question,
which will then be suggested to the Russian and French groups.
JA l n the question, of branch lines the British group have no desire to claim any
-Hrtual monopoly of railway enterprise ” in Southern Persia, such as Sir Edward Grey
ears to apprehend. All they desire is to safeguard their own interests and to such
an end they put forward suggestions by which they considered those interests would
would be glad to learn the nature of such alternative measures as Sir Edward
Crev mav have in mfnd that may accord with the policy of His Majesty s Government,
the same time secure to the Trans-Persian Railway reasonable facilities for
obtaining traffic by means of branch lines, without which a main line cannot 1)8 expec ed |
^TUrTeTo^Sr^m its present form appears to the Foreign Office
• * * Vmf iKp British group would be prepared to propose to their Bussian and Fienc
mexplic, . 8 f P k to tl f e effect that nothing in the proposed agreement
XnXXe (C ) S be hereafter interpreted as admitting the imposition of
EXl rates in the respective spheres, or as justifying the application of any
group do not consider them
^.m the present Cl ^ H ’ arl . ison to p rocee d to Persia with M. Bizot and
M Raffalovlh to negotiate on behalf of the Soei^te d’titudes with the Persian
^“hoped, however, that Sir Louis Mallet’s letter of the 23rd Otoo may form'the
, ■ ■,. A.Jhpr discussion before any definite communication is made by die Brits
baS1S n to thed French and Russian associates in the Societe d’Etudes whose repre-
EXtives are expected in London on the 12th December to confer on the business of
the “ soeiete.” j have, &e.