'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎17r] (38/386)

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candidates for independent charges at a later date. The sndden creation of a
number of new Consulates necessarily accentuated the difficulty of securing
suitable incumbents. But the initial obstacles have been overcome, and there
is every reason to believe that the next few years should see a great and distinct
improvement in the qualifications of the Indian officers serving in Persia, as
the first incumbents gain more experience, as junior officers are trained up to
step into vacancies which may occur, and as the larger field makes more
discrimination possible.
Not only were endeavours made to secure that properly qualified officers
should be available, hut steps were also taken to secure to them reasonable
means of retaining their health in places frequently insalubrious and devoid of
amenities and of supporting the dignity of their office in the eyes of the natives
of the country. New buildings were provided for the Consulate in Seistan; at
Shiraz a summer residence was provided for the Consul-General at Bushire:
the construction of suitable quarters for the establishments at Ahwaz and at
Bunder Abbas is now about to be undertaken. At Kerman and at Kerman shah
existing houses were bought or secured on long lease, and a bouse was rented at
Turbat-i-Haidari. In many cases the reception rooms of the Consulates were
furnished at Government expense. Suitable allowances were sanctioned to
compensate for the additional expense of life in Persia. Funds were provided to
defray the cost of sumptuary expenditure. Special leave concessions were
also granted to compensate for the remoteness of the stations.
A further measure of importance in support of British influence in Persia
was the organised supply of military escorts to British Consular Officers. The
Resident at Bushire had for some time been supported by a small infantry guard
of 56 men and a mounted escort, 9 strong; while at Meshed, the Consul-General
had a detachment of 5 Indian troopers. The proposal for a more general supply
of escorts originated with Sir Mortimer
Consu ar escor s. Durand in 1899. The Government of
India at that time considered it inadvisable to pursue the question. In 1901,
Sir Arthur Hardinge again raised the point; the Government of India were
again consulted; Lord Curzon warmly supported the proposal, and the Govern
ment of India declared their willingness to equip and despatch guards equivalent
to those of Russia to all British posts in Northern Persia, and guards of slightly
superior strength to all such stations in the South. The matter was again,
however, allowed to drop, though in the meanwhile the newly-appointed Consul
in Seistan had taken with him to Nasratabad an escort of 6 Indian
troopers, while small escorts had also been furnished at Kerman and Ispahan.
In 1903, the proposal was once more brought forward, and after full discussion
it was decided to proceed with an organised scheme which provided mounted
escorts for every British Consulate in Persia, with the exception of Resht. The
total strength of the guards despatched was 152 men for 12 Consulates.
On more than one occasion the Persian Government has suggested the
withdrawal of the guards. Rut the reply has been that their presence is
necessitated by the disturbed condition of the country; and that their removal
would expose our officers and interests to serious risks. The sole efficient
regiment in the Persian army is a Cossack Brigade controlled by Russian
officers. The Grand Vizier has been informed that a basis for discussion might
he found, if the Shah would organise a corresponding levy raised and
supervised by British officers.
The growth of expenditure resulting from increased British activity in
Persia was considerable; and the incidence of cost became a question of some
moment. The financial arrangements for the defrayal of the Persian Mission
charges have formed the subject of constant change ever since the inaugura-
. _ . tion of the Mission in 1810. In 1891,
Espen 1 ure n. e.s.a. wag (j ec jj e( j India should make
an annual contribution of £7,000. In addition India already bore directly the
entire cost of the Bushire Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , of the Consulate-General at Meshed, and
of other charges. In 1899 Lord Curzon reviewed the position. He proposed
the adoption of one of two alternative plans: either all charges in Persia
should he equally divided, or else an arrangement should be made whereby
the Indian Government should undertake the entire cost of maintaining British