مذكرة عن احترام المصالح البريطانية في الخليج العربي. [ظ‎‎٧‎٣] (١٢٦/١١٢)

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APPENDIX (B).
Persian Undertakmgs respecting British Railway Construction in Persia.
BY the Russo-Persian Agreement of the 11th November, 1890, the Persian Government engaged
that no railways should be constructed in Persia for ten years, on the termination of which period
“ the renewal of the Arrangement shall be immediately discussed between the two parties.” The term
of this engagement is understood to have been since prolonged up to 1910, but the Persian Grand
Vizier informed the British Charge d’Affaires in 1902 that he had intimated to Count Lamsdorff that
“ Persia would not agree to a further renewal of the Railway Agreement with Russia, which would
terminate in 1910.”
On the 16th September, 1888, the then Shah (Nasir-ud-din), in an autograph rescript to the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, gave assurances as to British preferential rights in regard to railway
construction in Southern Persia in the following terms:—
“ Convey these commands to his Excellency the [British] Minister Plenipotentiary. Even give
him this very autograph in order that he may keep it and be satisfied that our former promise with
regard to the priority of the English Government over others in the construction of a southern
railway to Tehran continues to hold good; and certainly, whenever Railway Concessions in the
north, &c., are given to others immediately a Concession for a railway from Tehran to Shuster or such
a one will be given to the English Company; and, of course, then the clauses and conditions will also
be examined in order that it be to our advantage and interest and for the benefit of the commerce of
both parties; and positively no southern railway without consultation with the English Government
will be granted to any foreign country.
“ P.S.—And it is clear that in Persia nobody will be granted permission to construct railways,
except it be solely commercial ones. We say so now that they may know it.”
On the 4th April, 1900, the British Charge d’Affaires at Tehran was instructed to remind the
Persian Government of this engagement, and to “make sure that the Shah, i.e., Nasir-ud-din’s
successor, the late Muzaffar-ud-din Shah,” was aware of its “ existence.” Mr. Spring-Rice accordingly
communicated a copy of the rescript of 1888 in an official note to the Persian Minister for Foreign
Affairs, requesting that it might be laid before the Shah. Both the Grand Vizier, to whom a second
copy of the communication was given; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs promised that this should
be done at once, and Mr. Spring-Rice subsequently learnt from the Shah’s doctor that the matter had
been explained to His Majesty, and that the latter had seen the document. On the 11th April, 1900,
the British Charge d’Affaires, at a farewell interview with the Shah, who was about to start for
Europe, thought it best not to mention the subject; but, on withdrawing, he was informed orally by
the Grand Vizier that the rescript had been laid before the Shah, “ who regarded it as of binding
force.” The Grand Vizier added that for the next ten years the question of concessions would not
arise owing to the Russian Railway Agreement, but that if the Russians raised it, the Shah would
produce his father’s promise to Great Britain. The Minister for Foreign Affairs told Mr. Spring-Rice
that this was the answer to his official note.
The Government of India, on the 2nd September, 1907, raised the question of whether the pledges
given in 1888 were affected by the recently concluded Anglo-Russian Agreement. This question
appears to be still under the consideration of His Majesty’s Government.