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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎101r] (206/258)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (129 folios). It was created in 1912-1916. 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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3
As regards (a )he has arrived at the conclusion that the best alignment to follow
would be bunder Abbas Lar Jahrum, Kara Agach Valley, Shiraz, as being the most
direct by at least - miles, besides being the cheapest and traversing the centre of the
^(jst fertile portion of .bars.
Speaking generally, he considers that for many years to come there can hardly be
sufficient traffic to make more than one line from the Gulf to Shiraz profitable "and
as regards the suggested Shiraz-Mohammerah and Shiraz-Bushire connections he holds
that the former has no raison d'etre except it be a strategic one, while as regards
the latter he agrees that a good many arguments can be adduced in its favour, but
thinks that it must be regarded as both supplementary and secondary to the Bunder
Abbas-Shiraz project of which he urges the obvious strategical value to the Persian
Government.
He strongly favours the extension from Shiraz to Ispahan, aa also does Mr. Chick,
as a necessary corollary to the connection of Shiraz with the Gulf; but finds little to be
said for an extension from Shiraz to Kerman. He considers, however, that a demand
for an option for the construction of such a line should be made whenever concessions
for lines in South-West Persia are asked for from the Persian Government.
9. In the foregoing paragraphs I have merely endeavoured to epitomise briefl 7 the
general purport of the reports submitted; it would hardly be of any advantage at the
present stage for me to embark upon any detailed comment on the figures and
estimates furnished, and indeed I find it very difficult just now to formulate any
precise views even on the major issues raised, owing to the fluid and uncertain state of
the several primary factors involved.
Thus, it is at present problematical—
(a.) Whether or not the question of the Bagdud-Gulf section of the Bagdad Railway
will be regulated in a w T ay satisfactory to us.
(b.) Whether the Persian Railw r ay syndicate will obtain and act upon a concession
for the construction of the Mohammerah-Khoremabad Railway.
(c.) Whether the comprehensive application of the same syndicate for a series of
other railway concessions will prove successful.
(d.) Under what precise auspices and conditions the proposed Khanikin-Tehran
connection will be made.
(e.) Whether or not the Trans-Persian Railwmy project will ultimately receive the
sanction of public and expert opinion, with the practical probability of realisation, and
if so wffiat wbll be the precise alignment decided upon.
10. With regard to (6) and (c), it is evident from the terms ol the railway
syndicate’s draft concession that if their efforts meet with success, a start will be made
with the Mohammerah-Khoremabad line, so that in any case other projects in bars
are unlikely to get beyond the option stage for some time to come. Before that, it is
to be hoped that negotiations with Turkey regarding the Bussorah section^ of the
Bagdad Railway, and other matters, will have reached a satisfactory conclusion and
that we shall then have a clearer view ahead.
In the meanwhile I am of opinion that the practical possibilities and alternatives
for connecting Bushire with Shiraz cannot be considered disposed of by the repoits at
present submitted, and that it will be worth while as soon as the state of the country
admits of it that an expert investigation of the commercial possibilities and engineering
aspects of alternative routes should be undertaken. At present no possibi ity o sue a ^
measure seems in the least likely. _ . .
11. There is only one other point which it seems advisable to ouci upon ere,
namely, the crucial position occupied by Ispahan in reference to our sc ernes toi ia,i wa)
enterprise in Southern Persia. , ^ , j i
It will be noticed that both Lieutenant Wilson and Mr. . 110 . a '? ca
connection with Ispahan from the Gulf, and from the economic \iew r ert ,, ,
be no doubt, I think, as to the advisability of it. Up to now *
the case of Ispahan has been considered affected by the possi 11 y o ^ ,
Railway extending eastwards, and further, that in any case un i
for the" Trans-Persian Kailway has been chosen no final decision res P ec * p S ,
be arrived at. Meanwhile it is clearly of urgent iinpor ance
w arrived at. ivieanwnne it is luea-ny ^ — i. . Qaon • n
endeavour by all means in our pow'er to keep Ispahan m comme c ^
with the Gulf, and not allow our commercial position there to be
Ispahan is almost equidistant from Tehran, Hamadan, iiraz, an ’ s j 10u ]^
with water communication as far as Ahwaz there is every" roa( j can } )e
he able to retain our hold on it if only 7- communications by e
rsj
I?

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and maps relating to the development of railways projects in South Persia and the associated marine surveys of Gulf ports, notably Bandar Abbas and Bushire.

The volume includes the report of Lieutenant Arnold Talbot Wilson on the technical issues concerning development of railway lines between Bushire and Shiraz, and Bandar Abbas and Shiraz. Also included is a report on the commercial possibilities of these two developments, compiled by Commercial Adviser, H G Chick. These reports (folios 101-124) are preceded by an accompanying summary and analysis by the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Percy Zachariah Cox.

Also discussed in the correspondence is the question of concessions for railways in the neutral zone and the relative advantages (climate, water supply) of Bushire and Bandar Abbas as railway termini in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The correspondence also features discussion of a rumoured German scheme for a Bushire-Shiraz railway.

Further discussion surrounds the arrangements for marine survey work in the region of Henjam and Bandar Abbas to be undertaken by the RIMS Palinurus. A report by the Captain of the Palinurus, Captain B W Mainprise is included along with three marine survey maps (folios 48-50).

The principal correspondents in the volume include: the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Consul General for Fars (Lieutenant Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); (Lieutenant Colonel Stuart George Knox); First Assistant to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Captain L Birdwood; Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department; Under Secretary of State, 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. ; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Louis Mallet); Director, Royal Indian Marine, Walter Lumsden; Officer Comanding, RIMS Palinurus ( Captain B W Mainprise); Secretary to the Government of India, Marine Department.

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (129 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 4648 (Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports) consists of 1 volume, IOR/L/PS/10/316. The explanation of the cover sheet/divider at the front of each volume (regarding the correspondence series numbers which have been put together to form the volumes) will be given in the Scope and Content.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 127; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎101r] (206/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x000007> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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