‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎494v] (38/112)

36
11. This pledge has been subsequently 1902.
referred to. In his despatch of 6 th Jan
uary 1902 Lord Lansdowne recapitulated
the salient features of British policy to
wards Persia for communication to the
Shah’s Government and with regard to
railways said:—
“ As regards railways, I may remind you that Secret E., March 1902, Nos. 377-521, Proceeding
in March 18rt9 the late Shah of Persia gave a N °-602.
distinct promise in writing that Great Britain
should have priority in the construction of a south
ern rail-way to Tehran ; that if concessions for rail
ways were given to others in the north a similar
concession should be granted to an English com
pany in the south ; and that no southern railway
concession should be granted to any foreign com
pany without consultation with the British Gov
ernment. This pledge was brought to the notice
of the present Shah in April 1900, and was
acknowledged by His Majesty to be of continued
and binding validity.”
12. In August 1902 the following con
versation took place between the Marquis
of Lansdowne and the Grand Vizier during
the Shah’s visit to London :—
The Mauquis of Lansdowne to Mr. des Graz.
No. 76 (Confidential).
(Extract.)
Foreign Office, 18th August 1902.
“ I called on the Atabeg-i-Azam at. Marlborough
House this afternoon and had a conversation of
some length with His Highness ” * * (who)
“ reminded me that it was owing to his influence,
exercised in the face of much opposition, that we
had been given a pledge that if railways were ever
constructfd in Persia, we should be allowed the
priority in respect to all southern lines. I said
that I was fully aware of this pledge, which I
regarded as one of signal importance and which
His Majesty’s Government would certainly not
forget.”
Serret E., March 1903, No*. 261*328, Proceeding
No. 285.
On the 6 th of May 1903, the day after See page 89.
Lord Lansdowne delivered a speech in
the House of Lords in the course of which
His Lordship asserted the special interests
of Great Britain in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the
south ports and also in Seistan, the follow
ing conversation took place regarding rail
ways between Lord Lansdowne and the
Bussian Ambassador as recorded in the
following extract.
The Marquis of Lansdowne to Sir C. Scott.
No. 112.
Foreign Office, 6th May 1903.
(Extract.)
The Russian Ambassador observed to me today secret K., July 1903, Nos. 286-287, Proceeding
that he had read with interest the statement No. 287.
which I made in the House of Lords last night
on the subject of British interests in Persia. * *
“ We in this country recognized the prepon
derance of Russia in North Persia. On the other
hand, we had special interest in the Gulf, in the
south pcrts, and also in Seistan. With regard to
the latter, I said that we should certainly regard
with serious apprehension any attempt on the
part of Russia to construct a railway from the
north, so as to threaten the frontiers of India on
the Baluchistan side.
f.