'Seistan' [‎366v] (734/782)

[ 21 ]
71. We will now proceed to apply the principles which have been
enunciated to a consideration of the particular question referred to us by
Your Lordship, viz., the suggestions of Sir M. Durand on the one hand, and
our own views or proposals on the other, concerning the increase of Consular and
other establishments in Persia. We may say at once that we are anxious to regard
the question from a broad-minded and liberal point of view, that we have no
desire to haggle with Her Majesty’s Government over shares of responsibility or
of cost, and that we are quite willing to add to our own charges for the protection
of .British interests in Persia, in the confident belief that Her Majesty’s Govern
ment will not be behindhand with a similar generosity. Our argument as to
the magnitude and significance of those interests and the reality of the dangers
with which they are assailed would have been insincere, were we unprepared to
give to it a practical demonstration.
72. Por the sake of clearness we will divide the country into different
spheres, representing with sufficient accuracy the rough lines of demarcation
between British and Indian interest. In the northern and central sphere,
and m the western sphere, the responsibility of Her Majesty’s Government is in
our judgment more directly involved. In the eastern sphere, and in the
southern or maritime sphere, we admit a corresponding preponderance of Indian
interest.
73. Commencing with the first named of these areas, we find that Sir M.
Durand recommends an improvement in the pay and status of Her Majesty’s
Consul-General at Tabriz. In so far as our judgment on the matter is desired"
it is m entire accord with the proposal. We are more doubtful about the
suggestion to appoint an additional Vice-Consul at Tabriz, with the intention
of posting him later on at Urumia; since we incline to the opinion that the
ultimate destiny of the Persian Yestorians has been irretrievably fixed bv their
recent wholesale conversion to the Russian faith. We concur with Sir M.
Durand as to th e desirability of reducing the Consulate at Resht to a Vicei
Consulate. AY e have before expressed our hearty eoncurrence with his pro
posals concerning the Consulate at Ispahan. These proposals without excep
tion concern m their financial aspect the British, ai d not the Indian, Exchequer.
a British ' vestci ; n s P here Sir M. Durand advocates the appointment of
a Bntish Vice-Consul at Kermanshah, subordinate to the Consul-General at
iehian, and paid for by England, m place of the present native a^ent whose
modest allowance of £21 is drawn, for some unaccountable reason” from the
charges for the Meshed Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , i.e., from Indian funds. The figures of
British trade passing through Kermanshah from Baghdad to Tehran appear
to us amply to justify the proposed change. We are less confident about a
suggestion made by bir M. Durand, originally in connection with this route
but also with a wider application, namely, that we should depute an Indian
officer to examine the various possible routes for railways in Persia and to
make suggestions. Such a proceeding would, in our opinion bp Wli ™
ture and uncalled for. We are very doubtful whether in her present state of
evolution I ersia is prepared for railways. The receut renewafof the prohibf
tive agreement with Russia shows that the latter Power does not for t *
at any rate intend them to be introduced. Enquiries of the propped chSe^
would be certain to arouse suspicion; and finally wo befiere that we are
already in possession of the materials enabling us to iud< e A f i , u
very few in number, that under existing conditions t fould be prud 'nt"if
it were possible, to construct in Persia. prudent, it
n i -p ■ F i V rt ^ r to t]ie sout h Sir M. Durand recommends the substitntirm pf
Consul for the Karun and Arabistan at a salary of £800 (to rii 'ri a i *
the Imperial and Indian revenues) for the present Vice ri. i ? betWee:
whose salary of £490 is defrayed from Imperial sources Hp /f Moh ® mmeral1
the abandonment at an early date of the handsome annual subsicW
now paid in equal moieties by the two Governments to AWr! T i r
secvicu upon Hiii Karim. 0 L ,™» „ lto r7