'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.' [‎51v] (107/386)

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from India to Seistan and Khorasan, and would spare no efforts to rob it of
success; secondly, that she regarded with an interested eye the future of Seistan
itself, and was already preparing, by a display oi armed force and by the as
sumption of executive authority, to pave the way for an eventual inclusion
within the Russian sphere of that portion of the Shah s dominions.
14 The construction of a railway from Merv to Kushk during the past
few vears also illustrated the political and strategical objects of the Russian
advance, which were stated by M. de Witte, Russian Minister of Einance, in
June 1898, as being designed “ to enable Russia to attack Afghanistan in case
of complications with England.”
15. In seeking to obtain a footing in Seistan, Russia was not merely ondea.
vouring to block a promising avenue of Anglo-Indian trade and to acquire a
position of potential menace to British interests on the western flank of
Afghanistan, but was also concerned in the prosecution of an advance to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Negotiations, though denied, had taken place for the cession to
Russia of a Persian port at the eastern extremity of the Gulf and were in
accordance with the evidence # of Russian activity in Central and Southern
Persia. I here we find a Russian Consul was appointed for the first time at
Ispahan in 1897, where Russian imports were trifling, and this individual
was reported to have travelled to Shiraz and Bughire, and to Mohammorah
and Shuster on the Karun. The Persian Cossacks were increased from
1,000 to 1,500, and detachments of this corps were, for the first time, taken to
the south by the Governors of Shiraz and Arabistan. In 1897, M. Krugalow
was sent as Russian Consul to Baghdad, with the special object of reporting
upon the acquisition by Russia of a coaling station on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
Russian emissaries from Baghdad had been living continuously at Koweit
during 1899. In Bushire and Bunder Abbas the Russians had developed a marked
interest, two doctors making their appearance there in 1897 for the study of
plague. By the end of 1898 the number was increased to five. In 1895 a
Russian officer visited and surveyed the island of Hormuz, opposite to Bunder
Abbas, and other Russian emissaries were afterwards heard of at the latter place.
Further it should not be forgotten that in 1898 Russian opposition broke down
the loan to the Persian Government from the Imperial Bank of Persia, tho
security of which was to he the customs of the southern ports, to bo collected by
agents of the hank. In spite of Count Mouravieff’s recent assurance that Russia
had no intention to acquire a port on the Gulf, the information received from
a Persian official of high rank, known personally to the Viceroy, was to the
effect that Russia had acquired certain rights in regard to such a port, although
it might not suit her at once to enforce them. Nor were such pledges, even if
given by the sovereign, always regarded as binding by his officials.
1G. It was more than a coincidence that simultaneo-'sly with the increas
ing Russian interest in Central and Southern Persia there was a notable
revival of activity by Prance, the ally of Russia in those quarters. This
was evidenced by the appointment of a Consul at Bushire and a Native
Consular Agent at Lingnh, by visits of Frenchmen to Koweit and to the
Karun to obtain a footing at Mohammerah, Shuster and Dizful, and by
the organised State-aided service of merchant steamers to the Gulf. Finally,
there were negotiations for a French loan to the Persian Government upon
the security of the customs of the Gulf ports, and a promise of a railway
monopoly in that country. French interests in these waters were so infin
itesimal that these proceedings could be interpreted only as an attempt to
cause trouble to a possible rival, and to assist a European ally. Ibis view was
borne out by French action at Maskat, where the French Government in 1899
were attempting to obtain, under the guise of coaling facilities, an independent
pied-a-terre in the neighbourhood of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and had kept up the
free grant of the French flag to Arab dhows, owning allegiance to the Sultan
of Maskat.
17. Germany too had in recent years displayed increasing interest in
Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . She had secured a concession for the construction
of a road from Khanikin to Tehran, prolongations of Turko-German railways to