File 4045/1913 'Pt 3 Railways: Trans-Persian Railway; Russian concession; Bandar Abbas-Kerman Railway; Kerman mining concession' [‎51r] (106/428)

promoting trade. It seems to me doubtful, however, if it will be possible to im
prove the communications so quickly as to benefit the present crisis to any great
extent. To do this the great desideratum is, in my humble opinion, to open j
up the Bushire-Shiraz road as quickly as possible. This would, I am sure, reduce
the prices of transport to a great extent, and would besides reduce the length of the
journey to Shiraz to about \ of what it is at present from Bandar Abbas via Bar,
and to about J via Sirjan. '
* Serial No. (34).
This would at once enormously reduce
the cost of transport mentioned in para
graph 3.*
5. As regards the future, the question of prolonging the line from Sistan, as
suggested in paragraph 5 of Sir P. Sykes’ letter, is, I believe dependent on strategical
considerations. I am under the impression that the Government of India did
not in the past view with favour such an extension of the Indian Railway System,
but it is possible that recent events in Persia may have modified the political and
strategical aspect of the matter.
6. In any case I agree with General Sykes that a railway from the coast is of
much greater importance from the point'of view of supplying the South of Persia |
and the South Persia Rifles and promoting British trade in the south generally.
It is obvious that all kinds of goods can be brought by sea to Bandar Abbas and
carried thence to Kerman and Yezd by rail much cheaper than they could be taken
to those places by an all railway route through Sistan. For this reason I venture to
think that a railway from Bandar Abbas via Rigan to Kerman (which has been
decided upon as the best alignment for a railway from Bandar Abbas to Kerman)
would be better than an extension of the Sistan line to Kerman.
7. I do not know, however, what effect (if any) the war and recent events in
Russia will have on the proposed Trans-Persian Railway to Karachi, or on the
activities of the Societe des Etudes or on the policy of Russia in Persia in respect
of railways. In the circumstances, therefore, I am not in a position to offer any
useful opinions as to the best alignments for railways into Southern Persia.
I think, however, that before deciding definitely to make Bandar Abbas the port
from which all lines will rediate inland, it is necessary to make sure that nothing
can be done from Bushire. If the cost of constructing a line is not prohibitive
Bushire offers by far the shortest route to Shiraz and Ispahan.
8. With reference to General Sykes' remarks in paragraph 8, I have as men
tioned above, sent him a copy of the report of the survey made by R. I. M. S.
“ Palinurus.” It will be remembered that the “ Palinurus ” found three places
suitable for the port (1) Bustaneh (2) Bandar Abbas and (3) Laft Point, and that
the Officer Commanding pronounced in favour of Bustaneh. This site, however,
has been unhesitatingly condemned from a sanitary point of view by Major
Holmes, I.M.S., {vide report submitted
tSerial No. (33). with my letterj* No. 301-S., dated 20th May
1917) It will probably be difficult to decide between the nautical advantages
and the sanitary disadvantages of Bustaneh. Personally I am inclined to think
that the pesent town site especially if the new portion is built to the west of the
existing town, will be found the best. I venture to question, however, the necessity j
of spending 7j lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in barracks for'the South Persia Rifles either at the present j
or any future site of the port. The present town is very unhealthy and the new |
one is not likely to be much better, and it appears to me from general considera
tions that it would be better to keep only a few men at Bandar Abbas and station
the headquarters of the regiment and the local recruiting depot (if any) somewhere
up the road where the climate would be better. It is possible that there may be
military considerations, of which I am ignorant and on which in any case I am not
qualified to form an opinion, which make it necessary to occupy Bandar Abbas in
force, but failing these I venture to think that other considerations show that such
a large expenditure at Bandar Abbas would be unwise.
A copy of this letter is being sent to Sir P. Sykes, and to His Majesty’s Consul,
Bandar Abbas.