'Despatch from Sir M. Durand respecting appointment of Additional Consular Officers in Persia' [‎100v] (4/18)

When His Majesty was murdered it was very doubtful whether there would
not he an outbreak of the Tehran garrison, which would have been followed by serious
trouble all over Persia, and Russian troops were, in fact, held in readiness for an
immediate advance ; but, thanks to English money, the outbreak did not take place,
and the succession was peaceful. If the present Shah should die as suddenly as his
father, we may reasonably hope that the succession may again pass over quietly.
This is, no doubt, a negative gain, but, from our point of view, it is very important.
The Shah, too, though weak, is well-meaning, and not, I think, at all inclined to
submit to Russian dictation. He has retained his English doctor in spite of determined
attacks on the part of the Russian and Erench Legations, who wanted to put in a
Frenchman ; and he has nominated as his heir apparent his eldest son, who wa§
opposed by the Russians; and his most influential adviser, the Hakim-ul-Mulk, is
believed to be very friendly to us.
To turn to other matters mentioned in my Memorandum of 1895, and connected
points, we have defined the long disputed boundary between Persia and Kelat, and
have pushed forward from India along the trade route to Seistan, and have sent
officers into Seistan itself, and have made arrangements for the improvement of the
trade route from Ahwaz to Ispahan.
We have severely punished a tribe on the Gulf coast which was responsible
for the murder of one of our telegraph officers, and we have sent a detachment of
British Indian troops to protect the telegraph line for the future. This has had a good
effect. Disturbances have occurred in Kelat territory, but they have not spread to
Persian Beluchistan, and the Ruler of this important province has throughout behaved
in the most friendly manner. On the Karim, at Shuster, our people have suffered
seriously from the fanaticism of the town mob, which has been fostered, if not created,
by the weakness of the Persian Government; but we are on good terms with the Arabs
and Bakhtiaris who hold the neighbouring country, and a little decided action on the
part of the Persian Government would soon put matters right in Shuster itself, where
the people were at one time particularly friendly to us. In the south we have greatly
strengthened our position by insisting upon, and obtaining, the removal ot an
obnoxious Governor of Bushire. I dwelt in my Memorandum of 1895 upon the
importance of the principle involved, and I would invite special attention to the point.
The effect of the case has been most remarkable. Altogether, it is certain, from the
reports of officers who have had recent opportunities of judging, that in the southern
zone our reputation just now stands very high indeed.
In Tehran itself we have had to deal, and still have to deal, with some hostility or
obstructiveness on the part of influential officials, but among them also our action in
the south has had its effect, and recent events in the Soudan have created a great
impression here. I do not think our political influence at the capital is any weaker
than it was in the time of the late Shah. On the contrary, I think that at this moment
it is stronger.
Even with regard to trade, there are some encouraging features in the prospect.
Perhaps, as this matter is one of very great importance, and as it is especially
connected with the question of our Consular establishments, I had better examine it in
some detail.
I may begin by pointing out that we have in Tehran an English Bank, the
Imperial Bank of Persia, with a capital of 650,000/., and branches at Tabreez, Resht,
Meshed, Ispahan, Shiraz, Yezd, and Bushire. This is the only bank in Persia which
can legally issue notes. It has, I believe, done some unsatisfactory business in India,
but so far as its business in this country is concerned, it is in a flourishing condition.
It did signal service on the occasion of the Shah’s death, when it provided, at a few
hours’ notice, large sums of money both at Tehran and at Tabreez, thus enabling the
Provisional Government to pay up the troops, who were in a very dangerous state.
The bank has been threatened to some extent by Russian competition, but so far
it more than holds its own.
Our trade enters Persia by a variety of routes, of which the following may be
mentioned:—
1. Erom Trebizond into the north-west corner of Persia, near Bayazid.
2. Erom the Turkish frontier near Kbanikin—“ the Bagdad route.”
3. By the Karun ports : Mohammerah and Ahwaz.
4. By Bushire.
5. By Lingah, Bundar Abbas, and minor ports in the eastern parts of the Gulf.
6. Erom Kelat territory.
7. Erom Afghanistan.