'File No. II/12 Foreign Dept Memoranda of Information re: affairs in Persia and Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf. Jan '09 --' [‎9r] (17/178)

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10. (Vide paragraph 23 of the ’Memo-
The Khaf-Seistan tele- randum for October
graph line. 190 Qj It is rPported
that the annual repairs to the Khaf~Seistan
telegraph line, which are usually carried out in
the autumn, have not been undertaken hitherto.
The line will therefore probably be in a
bad condition when it is handed over by the
Russians.
11. Major Kenmon had a very friendly
Interview with interview with the
Afghan frontier offi- Afghan frontier offi-
cial8 ‘ cials, on the 20th De
cember 1908, at Milak in Afghan territory.
12. Major Kennion reports that, in order
Proposed loan to the to repay an old loan
Shaukat-ui-Muik. from the Russian Bank,
the Shaukat-ul-Mulk applied, but without
success, to the Seistan Branch of the Imperial
Bank of Persia for a loan of tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. 15,000,
offering as security to pledge his gold and
jewels. Major Kennion was of opinion that,
in view of the previous history of our deal
ings with the Shaukat and the possibility of
his being again made Governor {vide para
graph 20 of the Memorandum for October
190b), it would be well to assist him. He
therefore asked His Majesty’s Minister at
Tehran, by telegraph, to consider the advis
ability of moving the Imperial Bank of Persia
in the matter. The Minister replied that the
Bank authorities were very reluctant to lend
money in the present situation; and that he
did not see his way to press upon them a
course which is regarded as inconsistent with
their banking interests.
13. (Vide paragraph 12 of the Memo-
Passport fees in randum for December
Seistan. 1908.) His Majesty’s
Minister at Tehran has informed Major
Kennion that the Controller of Passports has
sent telegraphic orders to resume the tax of
krans five only for servants of British subjects
and for camel drivers.
14. {Vide paragraph 8 of the Memo-
Arms traffic in the randum for December
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . 7^8.) On the 15th
January, the Secretary of State expressed his
concurrence, as regards the future measures
to be taken for tbe suppression of the arms
traffic in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in the views of
the Government of India, which had been
communicated to him on the 6th idem, to the
effect that political and financial considerations
precluded the use of troops in Persian territory
or any great increase of naval activity. The
course proposed by the Government of India
of continuing naval activity with the ships
that were available was approved, and it was
decided in accordance with Sir G. Barclay’s
recommendation that it was desirable