‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎178r] (354/949)

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9 . Proyisions for guarding the line with detachments of Russsian troops,
are also considered in detail. A force of about 4,000 men is considered
sufficient.
10 . The cost of the line and port, which even according to the estimate is
nearly 20,000,000Z., must act is an effectual deterrent for some time to come,
and for the present it would appear that the Russian Government will content
themselves with the bounty on Russian exports, amounting to about 4 , 000,000
roubles per annum ( 420 , 000 ), and the construction of trade roads, which
latter task has been taken over by the Russian Transport Company.
The construction of a through railway to the Pursian Gulf was a favourite
scheme of M. Witte’s, and the removal of that Minister from the Treasury, as
well as the unfortunate experience gained by Russia in Manchuria, will
probably act as deterrents to the commencement of railway enterprise in
Persia. The Grand Duke Alexander Michaelovitch, however, is said to be
equally an advocate of a forward policy, hut his Department being concerned
with navigation and harbours, the activity of Russia in Persia is apparently
finding a vent in opening trade relations with the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and construct
ing a port on the Caspian. I am, however, informed that the requirements of
His Imperial Highness’s Department have been considered excessive, and that
some of the demands will have to be cut down.
The general ideas underlying the proposed scheme appear to be two
(1) To facilitate an attack upon India; and
( 2 ) To construct a through route by rail to Indian Ocean.
It is pointed out, however, that in the latter case a line through Persia
to the south “ will only be profitable on condition that Russia has the right to
impose customs duties, as, in the contrary case, this route, while facilitating
access for foreign goods, will injure Russian trade, not only in Central but in
Northern Persia.”
This, of course, implies the practical annexation of Persia.
I have, etc.,
CECIL SPRING-RICE.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1 .
Memorandum by Mr. Lampson, respecting Roads, Caravan Routes, etc., in Persia.
(The following imformation is drawn from three sources, viz. : (1) a work on
Trade Competition in the East by M. Eedorov; ( 2 ) the original statute of
Poliakov’s Transport and Insurance Company; and ( 3 ) private inform
ation.
Persia may be divided into there regions in respect of its foreign trade—
the north, which is entirely within the sphere of Russian influence; the south,
wnere India and England, as yet, predominate; and the central zone, with
Azerbaijan, where the goods of all competitors meet.
This distribution depends mainly upon ways of communication, which are
all the more important as the cost of carriage in Persia is very high. The
trade of India, England and other countries of Europe has the benefit of a
cheap sea route to the ports of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and to Trebizond and the
Black Sea; but further inland there are, for the most part, difficult caravan
routes, whilst the means af transport are perpetually varying owing to the
mules being constantly removed for field work, and the charges for carriage
are so exorbitant and inconstant that it is almost impossible to base any
satisfactory calculation on them.
The southern caravan route goes from Bushire to Shiraz, Ispahan, Kum, The Busbire-Shiraz
and Tehran, a total, of 1,255 kilom. As far as Shiraz, 260 versts, there are two
roads, the one longer and with a greater incline through Eiruzabad, and the
other one shorter, but with very steep inclines, through Kazrun. The Russian
Consul, M. Adamov, says that this latter route is the most difficult in Persia
as it rises to a height of 7,400 feet above sea level (the pass of the Russian
military Georgian road is at an elevation of 7 , 900 , and that of the St. Gothard