‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎481r] (11/112)

9
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Britain and Russia from the gradual progress of
Persia and the development of her resources, and a
sufficient field in this respect is afforded for the
private enterprise of both countries without their
rivalry assuming the nature of a conflict. Either
party may, no doubt, do much to hinder the other,
though its efforts in this direction would almost
inevitably re-act upon itself. But Her Majesty's
Government are tirmly convinced that a policy
which should a : m at the exclusion of either Russia
or England from their legitimate share in the
markets of Persia is, in the long run, an impossible
one. The channels of access and the regions which
depend on them are too distinctly marked out by
tbe great natural features and conditions of the
country to be permanently overridden by political
expedient 0 . Our efforts, as is natural, have been
principally directed to the promotion of commerce
in the southern provinces, and the improvement of
their communications with the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . For
this purpose we have advocated, but hitherto
without success, tbe opening of the Karun river
to steam navigation, and the construction of a
railway which should give access to the more
fertile districts which lie at some distance from
the coast. But in accordance with the well-known
principles of English commercial policy, we have
not sought, or wished to obtain, any exclusive
privileges in this respect. Nor do we desire to
obstruct or oppose any plans which Russia may
wish to bring forward for the advancement of
commercial intercourse in the north of Persia with
the Russian possessions. The Russian Govern
ment may easily satisfy themselves of the great
engineering difficulties which would prevent the
proposed railway in the south from being extended
in a manner to become a formidable competitor
with Russian enterprises in tbe north. It is,
moreover, highly improbable that in any case
British capital will he forthcoming to an amount
which would enable the scheme to assume formid
able proportions.
“ Another question in which Her Majesty's Gov
ernment are, at all events indirectly, interested,
and on which I believe that the Shah and his
ministers at times feel considerable anxiety, is that
of the frontier of Khorasan, which still remains
unsettled.
“ You are aware that in 1882 Her Majesty's
Government proposed that this frontier should be
laid down by a joint commission, iu which Russia,
England, aud Persia should be represented. The
proposal was not carried into effect at the time,
and the circumstances under which it was proposed
have since that time materially changed. But
measures for accomplishing at an early date the
complete demarcation of the Russo-Persian frontier,
accompanied by an assurance of the Emperor’s
desire to treat the Persian Government with
equitable consideration, and scrupulously to respect
the just rights of Persia in this as in other
questions, would be very satisfactory to the Shah,
as they would he to Her Majesty’s Government.
“ You are at liberty to read this despatch to
M. de Giers, and to give him a copy of it if His
Excellency should desire it. As Sir H. XVolff is
now making his preparations to start for his new
post, I shall he glad to receive from you an early
intimation of the views of the Russian Govern
ment."
A telegraphic communication on the
subject of this despatch was made by the