File 4045/1913 'Pt 3 Railways: Trans-Persian Railway; Russian concession; Bandar Abbas-Kerman Railway; Kerman mining concession' [‎49r] (102/428)

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No. 441-a.q., dated Shiraz, the 17th May (received the 5th June) 1917.
Thom —Brigadier-General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E., C.M.G., Inspector-General,
South Persia Rifles,
To— Sir Charles Marling, K.C.M.G., C.B., His Britannic Majesty’s Envoy Extraordi
nary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of His Imperial Majesty the
Shah of Persia.
Among the most important questions in Southern Persia calling for speedy
action is that of communications.
2. The urgency of the question is extreme as, owing to a series of bad harvests^ (
combined with a visitation of locusts for six successive years and a chronic state of
anarchy which has been increasing in intensity, the harvests do not suffice for the
population.
As a result of this unsatisfactory state of affairs, last winter I was obliged to
purchase wheat in the Bakhtiari country, the cost of which, delivered at Shiraz,
was terribly high. I am now indenting on India for a part of the flour supply,
with the result that the traders of Bandar Abbas complain that the ordinary com
merce of the port is stifled owing to demads by the military on the limited supply
of transport.
3. To approach the subject from the financial point of view, the unsatisfactory
state of affairs is increased by the fact that famine conditions and demand have so
increased the cost of transport that one toman 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. per camel per diem (equivalent to
nearly . Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 5) is the average rate.
It must be remembered that military activity is essential at this juncture,
apart from special forces despatched to escort German prisoners, etc., and the
fringing in of equipment and stores.
Moreover caravans which include arms, ammunition or treasure have to be
escorted by really strong detachments ; and even caravans with supplies cannot
be left to the tender mercies of the robber tribesmen.
Consequently there is a very heavy call on transport and its cost is prodi
gious. The laying out of supplies for escorts, including grain and forage for ani
mals, is also a heavy item.
Eor instance, the expenditure on transport from March 1916 to, and including
April 1917, is, in round figures, Rs. 15| lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees or £100,000. This sum represents
interest at 5 per cent, on a capital sum of two million pounds.
4. From the point of view of the restoration of order in Southern Persia
I have already pointed out that it is largely a matter of providing good communica
tions, as the robber tribes are chiefly formidable owing to the fact that caravans
can be easily held up in the difficult defiles and passes and that protection cannot
be afforded with any rapidity.
Once roads are made, the robbers will find the main roads dangerous and will
gradually take to other forms of earning their living. The nomad tribes too, would
undoubtedly be more inclined to settle down into villages with the advent of the
railway which would favourably affect their economic position. Until this im
proved position of affaira be obtained, Persia will be unable to pay her way.
Given the restoration of order with reasonable progress in the administration
and more especially in the collection of revenue there is every reason to believe
that Persia will be able to pay for the cost of administration and protection, as
her trade will increase enormously when security is restored and modern com
munications are provided.
5. I think that I have established the necessity for pressing forward the pro
vision of communications from every point of view. It now remains for a com
prehensive policy to be outlined to be pushed forward as quickly as possible.
Railways have proved to be the only real businesslike expedient for commerce
.and may be dealt with first*