Coll 28/56 ‘Persia. Perso-Turkish & Perso-Russian Frontier Affairs. Rowanduz Trade Route.’ [‎49v] (98/154)

2
organisations, but they were bearing their bad days with fortitude and their
patriotism seemed perfectly sound. They were irritated by the new sales tax in
Turkey, for 50 per cent, of the whole trade of Azerbaijan passed through Constanti
nople, and complained of vexatious delays on the Trebizond caravan route; he had
found them unprepared to formulate their difficulties and grievances in a clear or
concise manner, but singularly reasonable in the statement thereof, which he
eventually extracted. They considered that the new route from Azerbaijan to Irak,
would be an excellent thing, and when asked by Dr. Millspaugh what proportion o^ s
their trade via Constantinople could be sent in future by Irak, they replied that
they were quite willing to send the whole of it and cut out Constantinople altogether.
3. Dr. Millspaugh had called for approximate estimates for the creation of
communications between Tabriz and the Irak frontier on the Rowanduz Road. Four
estimates had been handed in :—
(1.) 2 million tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for a standard railway.
(2.) 1-| millions tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for a light railway.
(3.) 800,000 or 900,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for a horse-drawn tramway line.
(4.) 100,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. for a motor road passing to the east and south of Lake
Urumia.
Dr. Millspaugh felt that the construction of a good motor road would meet all
present and immediately forcgable requirements. He had available a credit of
100,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , which he could immediately devote to the construction of the motor
road, and he promised the Tabriz merchants so to allot it, provided that an under
standing could be reached with the Government of Irak for the completion of the
Irak section of the road. What he wanted to ascertain from me was where matters
stood as regards Irak, what guarantees the Irak Government required in order to
put in hand the construction of their section of the road, and how soon it would be
possible to get down to business. I told Dr. Millspaugh that the Irak Government
were not going to make political considerations in connection with the failure of
Persia to recognise Irak an obstacle to the construction of a mutually beneficial trade
route, and that they merely wished to know whether the Persian Government were
really serious in their desire to create it. Dr. Millspaugh said that he could give
me that assurance as from himself straight away. I told him that I had informed
the Persian Government officially of the attitude of the Irak Government, and gave
him to read, to his obvious satisfaction, a copy of my note to the Persian Government
No. 133 of the 24th May, copies of which are enclosed herewith. I also informed
him that your Excellency was willing for your part to take up the matter energetically
with the Irak Government as soon as the necessary assurances had been received in
regard to the intentions of the Persian Government.
4. At this, also, Dr. Millspaugh expressed the liveliest satisfaction.
5. Dr. Millspaugh's next enquiry was how best to set about the matter. He
wished to know whether, in your opinion, any direct conversations between Persia
and Irak would be necessary, and said that he himself would, if indispensable, be
willing to go to Bagdad to discuss the matter or send a representative of his own
choice. He thought, however, in view of my explanations in regard to the attitude
of Irak, that this might be superfluous. He said that one point which would
evidently require careful attention was the proper linking up on the frontier of the
two sections of the road, and he therefore made the suggestion that engineers from
either side might be directed to meet at the frontier and make the necessary
arrangements for this purpose.
6. Dr. Millspaugh stated clearly that, in his opinion, the creation of this trade
route was beneficial from every aspect, and he was very much attracted by the
possibilities of a through route from Azerbaijan to Bagdad, which, so far as he
knew, had never before existed. He dwelt on the general and particular economic
advantages, general, in so far as the creation of a new trade route was concerned;
particular, in so far as the new route would help to deliver the Azerbaijan
traders from the dependence on Russia and Turkey, whose yoke they had found so
irksome, die also considered that the project offered distinct political advantages.
7. Lastly, I explained to Dr. Millspaugh the idea which you had put forward
of sending a trial caravan to Saojbulagh, providing that a return load could be
guaranteed. The details of his observations in this regard have already been
furnished to you in my telegram under reference, and there is no need to enlarge upon
them here.
8. I shall await with great interest your reply to mv telegram and, if there are
no difficulties of a grave kind to be overcome in Irak, I think the project can be put