File 3939/1926 Pt 5 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties: Persia, Seistan, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan' [‎36v] (66/558)

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PERSIA—TELEGRAPHS.
line of telegraph between Gwattur and a point between Jask and Bandar
Abbas As originally drawn, this Convention expired in 1888; but, by
mutual declarations made in 1887 annexure to No. XXIX), it
was prolonged till 1905, and in 1892 it was again prolonged till 1925.
KhaniJcin-Bushire 3rd Line. The telegraph Convention of 1 865
(No XXVIII) expired in 1872, when it was renewed for a pe r j 0( ]
of three months, after which a fresh Convention (No. XXX)
for the construction of a third wire was signed, I n thj 3
Convention the British Government formally agreed to abide
by the arrangement made by the Persian Government with the
Indo-European Telegraph Company regarding the revenue derived from
the Indo-European traffic. The Persian Government, in consideration
of a fixed annual payment of 2,000 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. , ceded to the British Govern-
ment, for a period of three years, the entire Persian terminal tax on
international messages originating or terminating in Persia. After the
expiry of three years the Persian Government weie left the option of
either accepting an annual payment calculated on the basis of two-thirds
of the average terminal receipts, or of claiming two-thirds of the receipts
from all bond fide messages. In consequence of certain outrages and
damage caused to the line, it was also provided that the British employees
should be placed under the special protection of the local authorities,
and that the expense of repairing wilful damage to the line should be
borne by the Persian Government. In 1887 the Government of India
waived their claim to the yearly contribution payable under Article 10
of the Convention: and in the same year the term of the Convention
which, as originally drawn, would have expired in 1895, was prolonged
till 1905 by mutual declarations (see annexure to No. XXX). In 1892
it was continued' for a further period of twenty years.
In 1915-16 the section of line between Shiraz and Bushire, maintained
by the Indo-European Telegraph Department under the 1872 Conven
tion, was considerably damaged and partially demolished by rebel
| tribesmen. Total interruption on this section continued from November
1915 to April 1919, when communication was restored. It was decided
not to claim from the Persians the cost of this reconstruction.
Clukishliar-Astarabad Line. In 1879 a Convention* was signed
between the Russian and Persian Governments, by which the former
were to make a line of telegraph from Chikishliar to meet the Persian
me at Astarabad. the Convention to hold good for one year and the
portion of the line constructed in Persian territory to be handed over to
e lersian Government after completion. In 1881 a further Conven-
was signed permitting Russian employees to work the line:
•—- as to receive 30 centimes a word on messages from Julfa to
* Appendix 1 No. XXXIT
t Appendix No. XXXllI.