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'Despatch from Sir M. Durand respecting appointment of Additional Consular Officers in Persia' [‎101r] (5/18)

The record is made up of 1 file (9 folios). It was created in Apr 1899. 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. .

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The T&st-named route has been practically closed for the time, partly by the
exactions of the Ameer and partly by the Russian sanitary posts, which have stopped
the passage of caravans between the Afghan border and South-Eastern Persia.
Of the other routes, that by Trebizond still brings in a considerable volume of
British trade, but less than half it once brought in. The estimated yearly value of
this trade is now about 302,000/. Curzon’s estimate for 1889 was about 610,000/. It
should be observed, however, that, although the decrease is doubtless due in part to
Russian competition, it is also due in part to the Armenian massacres and the troubled
state of the country during the last few years. There was a dreadful massacre in
Trebizond itself, which shook the confidence of our traders. Trade checked in this
way is likely to be diverted through other channels rather than lost, and I believe this
is what has happened. Part of our Trebizond trade has now passed over to the more
southerly routes, especially that by Bagdad.
The trade by the Bagdad route has increased in importance, and seems likely to
increase still further, especially if the railway system spreads in Asia Minor and
Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. . In the absence of any English competition, the Germans have
unfortunately obtained a Concession for making the road from Tehran to Khanikin ;
and British trade in this quarter is threatened by the Russian road from Resht to
Kazvin, which, under the terms of the Concession, may be prolonged to Hamadan.
Still, at present, the bulk of the goods imported by this route are British, and we hold
the Kermanshah and Hamadan markets to the exclusion of all European competitors.
From there we push forward into Kurdistan and other districts, including Tehran and
Ispahan. Our trade for last year was estimated by the bank agent in the Custom
house at a total of 1,018,155/., of which 838.521/. is British; and the exports are said
to have been exceptionally small this year because of a bad opium crop. Also, the
water in the Tigris was so low that transport was much impeded. Curzon’s estimate-
for 1889 was 327,796/.
The Karim route may some day be one of the most important of all. The
existing value of our trade is small, and the last figures* show a decrease on those
given by Curzon for 1890, the total being only 126,550/. as against 180,680/. But
there is reason to hope that the state of things will not continue. We are now opening
out the road from Ahwaz to Ispahan, and believe that we shall thereby effect a large
saving of time and cost in comparison with the Bushire and Ispahan route, which is
long and difficult. Also, we are trying to open out roads northwards from the Karun
to Sultanabad, the centre of the carpet trade, and to Hamadan and the surrounding
country. I attach much value to the Karun route, which, from the nature of things,
is entirely in our hands, and protected from any serious competition. Some good
judges believe it will before long be our main trade route. Its future, however, is by
no means certain, and we must not feel too sanguine about it.
The Bushire route is at present the most important of all, the volume of British
trade for 1897 being estimated at 1,155,039/. This route must always be important,
and seems likely to do well even if the Karun route develops. At present, it fills the
country with British goods as far as Ispahan, where the Russian competition is small,
and even supplies Tehran, 800 miles from the sea.
The eastern ports have suffered from the shrinking of the Khorassan and Afghan
markets, and can show no increase on the figures given for 1889. Still they supply a
very large tract of country, and their trade should not suffer any further from
Russian competition. They ought easily to hold their own in Yezd, Kerman and
South-eastern Persia generally. The value of their trade to us in 1897 was estimated
at 1,026,990 a-year.
The trade by the Kelat route is as yet small, but promises well. If we can
succeed in pushing our goods into Seistan from the south of Khorassan by the caravan
road from Quetta, and especially if the Government of India should decide to
construct a railway, there may be a real future for this route. The estimated value
of the trade for 1898 is 39,329/.
Altogether if one looks at the map of Persia the position held by our trade is
very remarkable. It is in full possession of the country up to and including a line
drawn from Khanikin by Kermanshah, Hamadan, Ispahan, Yezd and Kerman to
Seistan. Beyond that line it has begun to give ground both in the north-west and in
Tehran and in Khorassan, but, in spite of great geographical disadvantages, it has by
no means been excluded. Its total value is estimated at over 3,488,000/. This is
an increase of nearly 500,000/. on the estimate given by Curzon for 1889, a rise of
* For the Karuii and the Gulf port? I have failed to tret anv complete figures later than tho?e of 1897.
[892] ' C

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Content

The file consists of a despatch concerning the appointment of additional consular officers in Persia, from Henry Mortimer Durand, the British Minister at Tehran, to Robert Arthur Cecil, the Marquess of Salisbury.

Durand reiterates suggestions previously given in 1895 regarding the state of affairs in Persia, and proposals for improving the strength of the British position. He also submits further suggestions which form part of a general scheme of policy, based upon examination of the current state of affairs in Persia in 1899. The principal changes which have taken place since 1895 are outlined regarding: succession, government, finance, Russian trade and political influence, and British trade.

Diplomatic, Political and Consular staff in Persia are listed with costings, and suggestions are provided for places where the appointment of consular officers would be desirable, including the limits of their districts and an estimate of expenditure which the appointments would entail. He also proposes to: improve roads and possibly prospect for a railway, utilise the Telegraph Department and organise it for political purposes, grant a loan to Persia to foster goodwill, and check Russian encroachments.

The file notes the enclosure of a sketch map; however this is not present and has not been bound into the file.

Extent and format
1 file (9 folios)
Arrangement

The file consists of a single despatch.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 99, and terminates at f 107, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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.

Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Despatch from Sir M. Durand respecting appointment of Additional Consular Officers in Persia' [‎101r] (5/18), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C97, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100037114410.0x000006> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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