'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.' [‎19r] (42/386)

goods a market
had enjoyed
to maintain that
enquiry into the
its furtherance.
Mr. Maclean’s Mission.
in the southern districts, where till lately British trade
an unquestioned supremacy. Special efforts were required
predominance. A necessary preliminary was a complete
conditions of British trade in Persia and the means for
In 1903, the Board of Trade in London deputed Mr.
Maclean to visit the more important
centres of Persian trade. His tour
embraced the marts of North and Central Persia and the principal ports of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . But the tracts in which the Government of India felt a special
interest were those which bordered on the Indian Empire. Becent develop
ments had brought into special notice the strategic and political importance of
South-East Persia. Consuls had been posted to Kerman and Nasratabad, and a
Vice-Consul had been stationed at Bam. Steady efforts were already being
made to foster British commerce in Seistan. But no measures had been
concerted to develope British trade in Kerman, in Yezd, and in the districts
traversed by the routes which give access to these provinces from the port of
Commercial Mission to Soutli-East Bunder Abbas. In 1901, Lord Curzon s
:Persia - Government determined to facilitate the
despatch of a special Mission to examine the commercial resources of this
region. The leading Chambers of Commerce were addressed, and their
co-operation was invited. Erom certain of these, notably the Upper India
Chamber and the Indian Tea Cess Committee, the proposal met with
warm approval. In Mr. Gleadowe-Newcomen the former body nominated
a delegate of wide commercial experience. A Mission was formed with
Mr. Newcomen at its head, assisted by Mr. Byan and Mr. Luffmant
both of whom were deputed by the same Chamber. The Government
on their part defrayed the expenses of the tour, and provided an escort, ah
interpreter, and medical aid. The Persian Government were approached,
and signified their sympathy with the objects of the Mission by the
deputation of a Persian guard to accompany the Mission camp throughout
the tour. Landing at Bunder Abbas in October 1904, the Mission struck
northward to Sirjan and Bafsinjan to Kerman. An excursion southwards took
the Mission to the marts of Bam and Began. Beturning through Kerman, the
party made their way to Yezd, and thence passed through Shiraz, and so
descended to Bushire. On their arrival in India the Mission presented a
report designed to indicate the needs of Persian trade and stimulate the
growth of British enterprise throughout the regions traversed. A series of
proposals was also laid before the Government. The need was urged for
improved communications, and special attention was drawn to the project for
a road from Bunder Abbas to Began and thence via Bam to Kerman and the
central Persian plateau. The measures taken in pursuance of this recommend
ation have already been noticed. The appointment of additional Consular
officers was also advocated, and measures were suggested to secure the
greater safety of the caravan routes from the coast. These proposals were
still before the Government, when Lord Curzon left India in November 1905.