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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎123v] (251/258)

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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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to prove that a railway tariff need not be low at the beginning, and should produce 68
fair revenue. a
Inadvisability of leaving Bushire out of Scheme of Development.
All existing data make it tolerably certain that, even if railway connection u
Shiraz were first established via Bunder Abbas, Bushire would still continue to be ^
important trading centre, not only of the plain-country, but also for the hinfprl
t?: — ...... i -i • , UWir Un(i,
including Kazerun, Firuzabud, Behbehan, Borazjun, Dilam, &c., while in addition it f ’
every likelihood of growing into a port for grain export.
Consequently, it will hardly be possible—in the neutral zone as it is to sterilize 't
for railway transport; from Arabistan to Bunder Abbas is an enormous stretch of coast
line, with a wide radius inland, to be left unexploited. Bushire would always remain to
tempt enterprise, British, Persian, or foreign ; and the mere fact of concessions for
railways being obtained and work commenced on lines from Bunder Abbas and Arabistan 1
would at once lead opposition syndicates to seize on what they might consider a tactical
mistake, and construct via Bushire. Foreign influences, notably German, have culti
vated an interest in Bushire for years past; the Germans are, aided by a subsidy, in the
process of building up a grain trade. It is impossible to think of Bushire, even if
evacuated as useless by British trade interests, being similarly treated by our foreign
rivals. And it is practically certain that, were a railway constructed from Bushire °to
Shiraz by any shorter route than the Bunder Abbas line, this latter would drop out of
public favour entirely. .--B
Persian preference for Bushire Alignment and attention to their Interests.
In previous treatment of the question of these alternative routes, the point of view
has been exclusively English. Nothing^ has been noted as to the interests and wishes
of tne Persian inhabitants of the south in the matter of alignment. Yet it would be ]
well to recognise that when the scheme of railways is fin dly tabled, with British official
support, and made known in Persia, anything contrary to accepted notions of the
Peisian people is bound to meet with the most strenuous opposition. After a residence
of five to six years in the Gulf, during which, from the nature of ray work, I have been
constantly and closely in touch with Persian trade, Persian merchants, and .various
classes m the country, I can only express the most emphatic opinion that Persian
notables, traders, and shopkeepers in Shiraz, Bushire, and to an extent in Ispahan,
wou cemand the Bushire connection, and raise pandemonium in their own forcible
as ion o oppose the Bunder Abbas alignment, and influence the Persian Government
against it. It may be observed that th^
. -i • • ^ w .11 v/ V LHC | JCd&CLll L0 v/1 LA 1 UCDlllCUj
Are ] i, e a ^ 1 L a 018 ^ Bersia. and the thinking class, which spreads ideas over the country,
and throughout their scurrilous press.
Reasons foi likely Persian Opposition to Bunder Abbas Alignment.

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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.

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English in Latin script
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File 4648/1912 'Railway projects in South Persia; surveys of Gulf ports' [‎123v] (251/258), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/316, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100045943905.0x000034> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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