'PRINCIPAL DESPATCHES AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO PERSIA CONNECTED WITH THE SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND MEASURES OF VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDDLESTON IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. JANUARY 1899 TO NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV-PART IV. PERSIA.' [‎21r] (46/136)

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•what lie has said. On the other hand, we think that we are in a position to fill
in the outlines of his sketch with a good deal of additional detail; and it will
he our duty to discuss the situation from the standpoint more particularly of
those Indian interests, of which we are the constituted guardians.
12. The political destinies of a country and a Government, as weak as we
have stated those of Persia to he, are likely to he determined in the main by her
geographical position in relation to her neighbours. Of the four foreign
Powers whose territories adjoin her own, two may he eliminated from the present
discussion as being themselves lacking in the strength or vitality, likely to
render their influence decisive, or their aggression to be feared. These are
Turkey and Afghanistan, the latter of which, moreover, is under engagements
with Great Britain that render it impossible for her to he considered, in her
foreign relations, as an independent Power. There remain Bussia and Great
Britain. There is a curious correspondence, hut there are also notable differ
ences, between the positions of these two Powers vis a vis with Persia. The
entire northern frontier of Persia is now contiguous with Russian territory,
with the exception of that portion which borders upon the Caspian Sea—a
distinction, hut not a difference, inasmuch as that sea has to all intents and
purposes been converted into a Russian lake. Russian territory also overlaps
the north-east corner of the Persian dominions. Great Britain enjoys a some
what similar preponderance of influence on the south, by virtue of her hitherto
unchallenged supremacy, both naval and commercial, in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ;
while, owing to recent developments on the side of Baluchistan, her land
territories also touch those of Persia upon the south-east. But there are these
broad differences between the two positions : firstly, that whereas the Russian
territories that are limitrophe with Persia on the north are continnons either
with those of European or with those of Asiatic Russia, the immense resources
of both of which dominions can he brought by a skilfully designed system of
railways, and deposited with little trouble and with no delay, upon the Persian
frontier itself—the forces of Great Britain, if required for purposes either of
menace or attack, would require to be conveyed by sea and would he separated
by a great distance from their base; the land connection on the Perso-Baluch
side being as yet too precarious and remote to admit of its being taken into
serious consideration in the present context; secondly, that whereas the Russian
land approaches upon the north are in her own exclusive possession, the
maritime access of Great Britain on the south is equally open to any other
Power possessing a naval marine. Hence the marked and inevitable distinction
between the power of persuasion or menace possessed by Russia in the north,
as compared with that at the disposal of Great Britain in the south, the
advantage enjoyed by the former being enhanced by the fact that the Persian
capital and Court are situated in the northern or Russian and not in the southern
or British zone of influence.
13. In these circumstances it is not surprising to read of the increasing
and indisputable supremacy which Russia has established in Northern Persia,
as described by Sir M. Durand. While not repeating his demonstration, we
may supplement it by saying that, while we think that no efforts should he
spared to safeguard so much as is left to us of the trade that enters the country
by the Trebizond-Tabriz route, of the trade of Tehran, and of that of North-
East Persia (concerning which it may he noted that the imports into Meshed
from British India which in 1893-91 represented a value of £198,500 and in
1891-95 of £312,000, have in 1897-98 sunk to £130,000), and while as long
as the capital remains at Tehran, which is also the centre of important British
interests in the shape of the Telegraph administration and the Imperial Bank
of Persia, it is essential that British influence there should he asserted on a
scale as nearly as possible equivalent to that of Russia—we are yet of opinion
that the advantages enjoyed by Russia in the field under discussion are so over
whelming as to render any attempt to dispute or to shake her position there
fruitless; and that our own energies can with greater wisdom and with superior
chances of success he directed towards the protection and consolidation of the