Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎318r] (635/678)

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landed property will belong to the Persian Government. If required, the movable
property will be purchased by the Persian Government.
Art. 12. Should any difficulty arise between the Road Company and the Persian
Government, a Committee consisting of three persons must be formed. One person
on behalf of the Persian Government, one from the German Legation, and another
person chosen by these two. This Committee shall arbitrate decisively for both
parties.
Art. 13. The Persian Government shall not grant any Concession for the con
struction of another carriage road between Tehran and Khanakin to other persons. In
case the Government should desire to grant a Concession for the construction of a
steam or electric railway between Tehran and Khanakin, preference will be given,
with equal rights, to the persons holding the present Concession.
Art. 14. The Company must employ Persian subjects for constructing and
administering the road, and may only engage such foreigners as are required on
account of their experience in the work.
The number of these foreigners, both overseers and workmen, should not exceed
thirty ; but should thirty persons be insufficient, by special permission of the Persian
Government their number may be possibly increased.
Art. 15. This Concession in Persian text in two copies will be signed by His
Sublime Majesty and exchanged.
Jamadi-ul-Awal, 1313 (November 1895).
No. 3.
Sir M. Durand to the Marquess of Salisbury.—(Received December 23.)
(No. 98.)
My Lord, Tehran, November 28, 1895.
I HAVE the honour to forward to your Lordship herewith a summary of frontier
news, from the 14th September to the 26th October.
I have, &c.
(Signed) H. M. DURAND.
Inclosure in No. 3.
Summary of Frontier News from September 14 to October 26, 1895.
Astrabad.—Mr. Consul Churchill reports an unusual state of quiet along the
Astrabad frontier, where the Turkomans are kept well in hand by the Governor, Amir
Khan Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. .
The Russian port of Kari Kala has been increased from 200 to 700 men, two
squadrons of the Turkoman militia now forming part of the garrison. According to
information given to Lieutenant-Colonel Picot by General Kuropatkin, the military
authorities in Transcaspia are determined on making an example of any parties
of Persian Yamuts found raiding across the Atrek, and have increased the garrison
accordingly.
Meshed.—Some excitement was caused in Meshed during the month of October
by the imprisonment of the Nusrat-ul-Mulk, Chief of the Taimuris, and one of the
most influential men of the eastern frontier.
The Governor-General, the Shabah-ul-Mulk, is said to have been driven to this
step by the intrigue and opposition of the Chief, and, acting under orders from
Tehran, deported him to one of the stations on the Khorassan Road. The Nusrat-ul-
Mulk has always been looked upon as a staunch supporter of the British Government.
Her Majesty’s Minister, therefore, interested himself in the case, and has induced
His Majesty the Shah to order him to Tehran, where he will have an opportunity of
representing his grievances.
This action of the Govern or-General will go far towards strengthening his position,
and give him an opportunity of instituting much-needed reforms in the internal affairs
of the province.
The export of grain from Kuchan, Sebsewar, &c., which was becoming a public
scandal, has ceased temporarily, owing to the imposition of certain customs duties at
the Russian frontier posts.
[1679 m—1] ‘ £ 2