'Russia, India and the Persian Gulf' [‎12r] (23/46)

The Western Frontiers of India.
19
has just been announced, whereby the duty on Indian tea
has been increased by 95 and on cotton goods by 10 per
cent. Lord Cranborne’s answer as regards the former
duty, to the effect that it will not prove prohibitive, because
most of the Indian tea consumed in Persia is imported
through Russia, needs explanation, unless different rates of
duty are prescribed for Indian tea entering Persia, through
Russia. At any rate, it is clear that the Russians intend to
ruin the trade which has been developing overland from
Quetta via Nushki, and Robat, to Seistan and Eastern Persia.
Russia has lent to the Shah’s Government ^3,500,000,
or perhaps ^5,500,000, or nearly four years’ revenue, on the
security of the Customs (other than those of the Gulf), has
acquired the right to coin Persian currency, and has paid off
all British claims on the Persian Treasury, binding Persia
to borrow nothing from any other Foreign Power till 1912.
By these means the Russian Finance Minister has found in
Northern Persia an almost exclusive market for the pro
tected products of Russian industry, while the Foreign
Office has extended its influence over the moribund Persian
monarchy, the independence of which she and England
have alike engaged to respect. The money borrowed has not
been spent in the improvement of the material condition of
the people, and popular discontent is evidenced by a recru
descence of Babism,* a movement regarded as hostile to the
established throne and religion, though really, as Professor
Browne points out, part of “ a certain circle of religious and
philosophical ideas endemic in Persia, and liable at any
moment, under a suitable stimulus, to become epidemic.”
The result of these measures is seen in the figures (also
from the Times), showing that, while Lord Curzon in 1889
estimated the value of British and Indian trade with Persia
at ^3,000,000, against a Russo-Persian trade of ^2,000,000,
the present (no doubt fairly accurate) returns, compiled by
the Belgian Staff, which now collects Persian Customs for
the Russians, shows that the Russians figure at ^4,500,000,
See Nineteenth Century, July, 1896—“Bab and the Babis,” by
J. D. Rees.