'Despatch from Sir M. Durand respecting appointment of Additional Consular Officers in Persia' [‎103r] (9/18)

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The grounds for these recommendations are apparent from all I have written
before.
('/.) With regard to the first recommendation, the importance of Seistan has long
been recognized, and the recent reports of Messrs. Webb Ware and Brazier Creagh
seem to put the matter beyond a doubt. We must keep Seistan in our zone. It is
too valuable, and would be too dangerous in Russian hands, for us to let the Russians
continue unchecked their efforts to close it to us and our trade. The necessity for
having native Agents Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. in neighbouring districts is not, I think, so clear. I have no
great belief in the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. of what Surgeon-Major Creagh calls “ crafty, diplomatic
natives,” unless they are very closely supervised. They often do more harm than
good. But Captain Sykes will be able to advise after spending some months in
Seistan.
(b.) It seems to be beyond dispute that a Consulate in Kerman is becoming
yearly more necessary. Wb must maintain a thorough hold on Persian Beluchistan,
in the interests of our adjoining Protectorate and of our trade. Kerman is the capital
of this large and important province, and the head-quarters of the Governor-General,
and a trade centre of some consequence. I am inclined to think that if we have a
British officer in Kerman we do not want another at Bampur. For the present, at
least, I should try to do without, although we might send a native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. there if the
Consul thinks he can get a man who will not stir up mischief among the border
tribes.
(c.) Shiraz is a place of great importance, both commercially and as the capital
of Pars, $nd the residence of the Governor-General. Our Consul-General for Ears
should know something of the province and its Ruler, over whom he should endeavour
to establish a personal influence. Our interests in Shiraz should not be left to the
present native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , who, according to all the accounts I receive, does very little good
and some harm. I feel some doubt whether the Resident in Busliire, who has a great
deal of work to do in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , is not overweighted by the charge of Ears; and
it may be necessary hereafter to appoint a special officer to that charge, but for the
present I would try the arrangement I have suggested.
(d.) It is, I think, evidently wrong that at a place like Ispahan, where our trade
and our political influence have hitherto been in full possession, the newly-appointed
Russian Consul should be better equipped than our own. The former has 800/. a-year
pay, a Secretary, and a free house, with other privileges, including an escort of cossacks.
The latter has 600/. a-year pay, of which he has to give back 60/. in house rent, and
150/. office allowance/ I would make him a Consul-General, and raise his allowances
to the level of the Russian Consul’s.
(e.) A Consulate on the Karun is perhaps the most necessary of all the appoint
ments I have suggested. Ahwaz may hereafter become a very important trade centre,
and from there we should work upon the Arfibs and Bakhtiaris and Lurs, establishing
our hold upon them, and opening up the routes through their country, and perhaps
raising from among them an irregular levy. The Resident in Bushire would prefer
for the present to keep our Consul at Mohammerah. I doubt the expediency of this,
as he should get into touch with the Lurs and Bakhtiaris quite as much as with the
Arabs of the Lower Karun. However this may be the Consul will probably require a
native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. or two for commercial work. We should, I think, for the present at
least, leave the Karun under the Consul-General for Ears. Our merchants would
prefer his being in direct communication with Tehran, and Captain Sykes in his
Report on the Karun recommends this; but I do not think we should, until the
necessity is very clearly proved, take away the district from the charge of the
Consul-General. It is better that we should have the whole of the Gulf coast in
one hand.
(f.) A British Vice-Consulate at Kermanshah is, I think, very desirable. Our
trade by the Bagdad route is increasing, and the route is a very important one in all
respects. As I have shown, the British imports and exports by this route approach
1,000.000/. We must keep our hold on it if possible. Our native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , although a
man of wealth and consequence, has from the time I have been in Persia done nothing
for us, and has been a source of unending trouble and expense to the Legation owing
to his quarrels with the Persians. It is the more important to keep our hold on
Kermanshah, because the Russians may at any time push on their road from Kazvin
to Hamadan. A Vice-Consul at Kermanshah should be directly under the orders of
the Consul-General at Tehran.
(g.) With regard to Bunder Abbas, the British trade of this port and Lingah
aggregates over 1,000,000/. Hitherto the Government of India have not been willing
°[392] £