'Seistan' [‎367v] (736/782)

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between Quetta and Meshed may receive the attentive consideration of Your
Excellency’s Government. It appears to me a measure desirable from many
points of view, and especially in connection with the facilities which might be
afforded by that route for the transport of arms and ammunition between the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and Baluchistan Since writing the above paragraph, we have
received news by telegraph of the appointment of another Bussian officer as
Consul to Seistan. We shall await the realisation of this announcement, and
shall, in that case, he prepared to modify our proposals in the sense already
indicated.
78. As regards the trade route in question, we propose to take active measures
for its development within our own territory. We contemplate spending addi
tional, though not extravagant, sums upon the better provision of wells, accom
modation, supplies of fodder and other stores, and the protection of the track.
We may even require to appoint a second British officer, to relieve Lieutenant
Webb Ware of the excessive strain now imposed upon him by the administration
of an extensive district, in addition to the protection of a road over 400 miles in
length. We hope by these measures, which will be unostentatiously pursued, to
escape the jealousy aroused by a too open challenge of rival ambitions in
Seistan, and to build up in that neighbourhood a substantial commercial and
political interest, which will find no mean ally in what we believe to be the
natural predisposition of the inhabitants. Experience alone can inform us
whether the anticipations that have been framed by the prospects of the
Nushki-Seistan trade route are over-sanguine, as in some quarters they are
freely said to be. If unsuccessful, the experiment which we now propose to
make can be abandoned without discredit. If, as we believe, it will be found to
have both a political and a commercial value, we shall be better enabled in the
future to pronounce upon the larger schemes which have sometimes been put
forward in connection with Seistan, and a reference to which will be found in
the Minute written by the Viceroy. At present, it does not seem to us to be
necessary to take them into consideration.
79. We agree with Sir M. Durand in thinking that a British Consul
should he permanently appointed to Kerman. We have already sanctioned a
contribution of Bs. 6,000 or £400 a year to the cost of this post; and w r e are
prepared to continue the payment of this sum. We believe that there are good
reasons for which Her Majesty’s Government may desire to continue the pay
ment of a similar moiety of the cost. But should their acceptance of the
increments proposed elsewhere, notably in the case of the Karun, be facilitated
by our assumption of the entire cost of the Kerman Consulate, we should
be prepared favourably to consider such a proposal; or, if it were preferred,
to divide with them the cost of the Karun and Kerman Consulates combined.
The financial result would in either case be approximately the same.
80. Sir M. Durand has suggested a British Vice-Consul, or a native
agent at Bampur. Eor the present we think that the latter will be the prefer-
able alternative; and we are prepared to undertake the outlay, which will not
exceed about £300 per annum. The officer in question would be under the
orders of the British Consul at Kerman.
81. Einally we come to the southern sphere, including the coasts and ports
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Your Lordship will have been prepared by what has
previously been said for the announcement of our willingness to submit to
some sacrifices for the defence of an interest, so substantially grounded, and so
conspicuously assailed. We are unable to agree with Sir M. Durand in the sug
gestion that any material reduction of expenditure can be effected at Bushire.
On the contrarv we are disposed to think that, if the best men in our service
are to be attracted to that post, we may even require to add to its pecuniary
attractions. We agree with him, however, in thinking that the Resident at
Bushire should reside at Shiraz, and exercise his consular functions there durino'
the summer months. We understand from Colonel Meade that the cost of a
site for a house (no suitable building being available either for hire or purchase)
would be from £1,000 to £1,200, and of building and furnishing about £1,500.
We think that this expense might be borne in equal proportions by the Imperial