‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎161v] (331/617)

I reported not long'
The loan would
enable us to obtain
other objects of our
policy.
Increase of weight of
advice.
Trading advantages.
Navigation of Upper
Karun.
Opening of roads.
Shuster as a commer
cial centre.
io-o how the Shah was tempted on the occasion of
the offer made by the Ottoman BanPersian Government, the
23. But besides securing the good^iUo^tne^ of the other
grant to them of pecuniary aid oa ^ weight of our advice when
objects of our policy. It should nlc , re f v e . “Vussfans, and it should enable
we J oppose any attempt at encroachment ^ othev respects. If
us to gain some tangible advantag . mav naturally expect him to do
we meet the Shah’s ™hes m »e ^ hag Jefinitely informed me
something for us, and this t e = ;jj throw open the Upper Karun
that if we help him about the Regie debt “ ? 1 ” u ’ 4 routes
mi&BikBmm
linmn To case Her Majesty’s Government were disposed to consider the
possibility Of Anting the help for which he asks, we should, I think, come to a
niost unmistakable agreement beforehand as to the precise nature of those
concessions. We cannot be too frank in these ways m dealing with the
Persians, who have no fine feelings about money matters, and whose way is to
take all they can get, and if possible give nothing m return.
24. As to trade advantages, the difficulty is to obtain xrom ciadeis them
selves any comprehensive proposals for the general good of British commerce.
The improvement of the very rough road between Bushire and fehiraz would be
a good thing, and so no doubt would be the opening out of internal loads by
which the produce of the country districts would be tapped. But 1 can think
of no important objects to be gained other than roads, and the Peisian
Government have no money to spend upon public woiks of this kind. They
have not 20 yards of respectable road in Tehran itself, where the main thorough
fares are very bad indeed for wheeled traffic. The opening of the Upper
Karun, and the establishment of a commercial centre at Shuster, would, I
suppose, be a considerable gain, especially if the dam at Ahwaz could be
repaired, and if transhipment at that place could be obviated by a system
of locks. But English firms would have to find the money for this, recouping
themselves by the sale of water to irrigate the surrounding country, and I
cannot speak with confidence of the results of such an undertaking.
25. Trading matters apart, I think that the grant of pecuniary help to the
Persian Government would give us a good opportunity for asserting ourselves
more strongly in Southern Persia. I would press for a delimitation of the
Perso-Beiuch frontier. Perso-Bcluch frontier, where Persia is constantly encroaching, and I would
insist upon the withdrawal of the Persian flag from the Island of Sirri, if the
Indian Government appear to Her Majesty’s Government to have made out a
clear case. I would also let it be understood that, in view of our large
interests in Southern Persia, we expect the Persian Government to show some
consideration for our wishes in such questions as the appointment or removal of
Governors. ATe could hardly make this an official claim, or a condition of any
help given to the Persian Government, but they used to consult us in such
cases, and I should like to he authorized to bring about an^bfficial under
standing on the subject. We ought not to have objectionable men forced upon
us in Bushire or such places simply because they have bid a little higher than
the rest. I do not think there would he much difficulty in exercising some
check upon had selections if it were known that Her Majesty’s Government took
some interest in the matter. Ho thing would give ns greater weight in
Southern Persia than the knowledge that if a Governor were not acceptable to
us he would not be appointed. A few years ago this was practically the
case, and I should like to see so satisfactory an arrangement again in force.
26. Even in the matter of administrative reform it seems to me just
possible that the grant of pecuniary help to Persia may enable us to do some
sensible good. ^ I have no doubt whatever of this if pecuniary help were granted
on a consuleiable scale. Bor example, the reform of the currency is X feel
sure, simply a question of bribing the Shah. If his present pishkesb
Increase of influence
in Southern Persia.
Check on appointment
of objectionable
Governors.
Pecuniary assistance
might lead to adminis
trative reform.
were
1 attaeii to this Memorandum a note sent to me some time ago by my Oriental Secretarv
Is aw db -^asan All Khan, who is very much in the confidence of the Sadr-i-Avom tt • i ^
to say that be is still of the opinion L then expressed.—IfiM.D. ’ He mhw me