‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎387v] (773/949)

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advances made should he adjusted when the Mission returns to Tndia and actual bills are
submitted, and unless the Chambers agr e to accept a lump sum down for each delegate and
run the risk of the total being exceeded.
9-9-04. S. M. Fraser.
The slow steamer from Karachi, which, I think, is the one that goes to Bunder Abbas,
leaves on Saturday, and so the first steamer «n October by which the t-ommission could leave
sails on 1st October. It ought not to have taken the office weeks to find this out, as it is
in every newspaper.
The telegram to Major Sykes may issue and the other action proposed can be taken.
9 - 8 . 04 . L. W. Dane.
*********
2. Major Sykes states that a very rough estimate of the Commission t ur i* Us. 13,2S0,
We must ask Finance Department (on a spare 61e) or Rs. 3,320 per meuibfr In this connection
for a grant to meet the expense of the Mission. a copy of the papers printed up to date has been
16-9-04. L. Russkix. sent to the finance Department to complete their
t 17-9-04. ^ S. M. Fbasbb. file. y ^
^ 1 ' ' L ' Please see the Foreign Department’s letter Nos. 25K3-4-F. a.,* dated 28th October 1903,
Jt f. <* I . External A, August 1904, Nos. f.8-107. and the notes at page 4 of the proceedings margi-
1/ 7' iy3 -j- See marked portion of Mr. Fraser’s note at page nall r noted. The intention clearly was that W6
6 of these notes. should not undertake thet audit of the travelling
expenses of the commercial representa'ives, but that they should receive a lump sum^ to be
agreed upon as representing actual travelling expanses hen, therefore, the loreign
Department receive a reply to their telegram of 10th September to Major Sykes, the lump
sum to be advanced should be settled in communication with the Chamber of Commerce, it
being undeistood that the sum is intended to cover all travelling charges. W e may agree to
the Foreign Department sanctioning advances on the ba^is of Major Sykes’ recommendations.
They should inform us, when conveying sanction, of the amount of the advances, and the
persons to whom, and treasuries from which, the payments are to be made, in order that we
may issue the necessary instructions to the Treasury Officers.
2. There is no budget provision for the expenditure on account of this Mission. The
Foreign Department may be asked to indicate hnw it is proposed to ineef it, when they are in
y C8i possession of comp'ete estimates of c. st —vide
16-9-04 J. Campbell. their telegram to Major Sykes, dated 2nd Sep
tember 1904.
G. S.,—14-9-01.
J. D.,—14-9-04.
f They have just come in.
(This case w’as held back by me, until a copy of
the notes at slip L could be obtained.) +
We may agree to the grant of any advances which the Foreign Department may consider
necessary. If they inform this Department of the amount, the Treasuries at which the
advances are to be made, and the persons to whom they are payable, telegraphic instructions
to the Treasury Officers concerned will be issued.
2 . The question of audit is connected with the question discussed in the recent notes in
this Department. We shall pay actual travelling expenses, provide transport, and provide
also tents, camp furniture, etc. It will be better to let each representative send in this bill,
I think; it is too late now to attempt to settle a definite sum for each delegate, and I question
very much whether that would be possible, in any case. The Chambers would doubtless
approach the question from the same point of view as Mr. Newcomen. He pointed out that
he knew nothing of the expenses incurred in travelling in Persia; and added that there was no
source of information readily accessible to him. That is true enough; and it is difficult to
see how the Chambers could determine a suitable sum to ask for in respect of each delegate.
3. The audit need not be a technical one; it will be sufficient if the bills are examined in
this and in the Foreign Department. In effect, we are putting the representatives of the
Chamber on their honour; and I person;^ll} , think we are quite safe in doing so. It is the
procedure which a commercial man would adopt himself in such a case; and it seems to me the
only practical method.
16-9-04.
16-9-04.
Foreign Department.
J. Campbell.
W. S. Meyer.
^y^-o IgC M THE Upper India Chvmber of Commerce, Cawnpore, dated the 19th (received 21st)
September 1904.
. Hegnrdiug the Commercial Mission to Persia.