‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎491r] (31/112)

29
for the construction of such railways as
would be beneficial to Persia; furthermore
the Shah had bound himself to England
not to give any railway in the south except
in agreement with her.
3. The policy of the Russians with re
gard to railways, however, was not to en
courage their construction by companies
of their own, but to block their being
constructed by any one at all, and during
1890 the Russian Minister pressed for the
prolongation of the period during which
Russia had the priority in the construction
of railways in Persia.
An attempt was made in September to
effect the prolongation for ten years with
a condition attached that in the event of
England making a railway to the Persian
frontier, Russia should have the right to
construct one to the south of Persia. His
Majesty accepted the ten years’ prolonga
tion, but not the attached condition which
Secret E., May 1892, Nos. 284-398, Proceeding ^PP™ 11 ^ Originated in the alarm felt by
No. 2 ^ 9 . tne Kussians at a rumoured extension of
the British railway from Baluchistan to
the frontier of Persia.
Ihid ' Proceeding No - 315 ’ The Russian Minister then put forward
a protocol containing a clause which pro
vided that at the expiration of ten years
the question of prolonging that period or
of granting the construction of railways
either to foreigners or natives should be
dependent upon the consent of Persia and
Russia alone. This was strenuously op
posed by the British Minister, but the
Shah was only too anxious to get rid of
the question of railways altogether, and in
November 1890 signed the following
Russian Agreement which contains the
obnoxious condition in the words which
limit the discussion of the renewal of the
prolongation after the expiration of the
ten years to the two parties, viz., Russia
and Persia:—
ibid, Proceeding No. 390. Translation oj draft Russian Railway Agreement,
* (Unclosed in Mr. Kennedy's despatch dated communicated* to Mr. Kennedy by Amin-es-
10 th November 1890.) Sultan.
“ As the Ministers of the Government of His
Most Sacred Majesty the Shah stated that there
are difficulties in their way in carrying out their
engagement of Rajah L306, (March 1889) regard
ing the construction of railways by the Russian
Company in Persian territory, therefore the Minis
ters of the Government of His Imperial Majesty
the Emperor of all the Provinces of Russia have
agreed to alter the above-mentioned engagement
in the following manner; and His Excellency M.
Butzow, Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy
Extraordinary of His Imperial Majesty the Most
Great Emperor of all the Provinces of Russia, and
His Highness the Amin-es-Sultan, the Grand
Vizier of the Government of the Most Sacred, Sub
lime and Absolute Shah of all the Provinces of
Persia, empowered by their respective Govern
ments have drawn up the detailed condition.
“ The Persian Government engages for the space
of ten years, beginning from the date of signature