"مذكرة عن السكك الحديدية الفارسية" [و‎‎٥] (٨/٧)

recommended an alignment by way of Yezd, Bunder Abbas, and Karachi, and
tlie\ thought that the Consortium s proposals might be accepted on certain
teims and conditions, which ultimately were adopted substantially bv His
Majesty’s Government (45).
21. Decision of His Majesty’s Government—On the 10th May 1911 a
despatch was addressed to Sir G. Buchanan instructing him that His
Majesty’s Government were ready to assent in principle to a Trans-Persian
Railway, and to agree to the initiation of negotiations between its promoters
in this country and in Russia subject to the following conditions (50):—
“ 1. The line shall enter the British sphere at Bunder Abbas instead of at Kerman, subject
“ to reconsideration as the result of actual survey, and shall in any case join the Indian
“ railway system at Karachi and not at Nushki.
“ 2. There shall be a break of gauge at Bunder Abbas, or wherever the line enters the
“ British sphere of influence in Persia.
“ In return for the co-operation of Great Britain in the project, which examination has
“ shown to be likely to benefit Russia far more than Great Britain or India, Russia shall
pledge herself not to entertain or support, without coming to an understanding with Great
Britain, any proposal for a line in the neighbourhood of the Perso-Afghan frontier within
“ the Russian or neutral sphere in Persia.
“ 4. Russia shall support demands made by Great Britain of the Persian Government for
“ concessions of the following branch lines connected with the proposed Trans-Persian
“ Railway
“ ( a ) Prom Mohammerah to Khoremabad, with a branch to port to be constructed at
“ Khor Musa.
“ (b) From Bunder Abbas or Charbar, via Regan and Bam, to Kerman.
“ (c) Prom Bushire, via Aliabad, to some point on a line—
“ (d) Prom Bunder Abbas, via Shiraz, to Ahwaz.
“ 5. The main line and those of the above branches w'hich lie in the neutral sphere— i.e.,
(a), (c), and (d) —shall be internationalised ; but the branch which lies entirely in the British
sphere— i.e. (b) —shall be a purely British project.
“ 6. Absolute equality of treatment in all respects shall be guaranteed to British and
“ British-Indian trade passing over the line and its branches.”
Sir G. Buchanan was authorised to explain frankly that the first three of
these conditions were dictated by strategic considerations, and had been
inserted in the interests of India ; also to make it clear that His Majesty’s
Government expressed no opinion as to the commercial or financial aspects
of the question (50).
22. Railways of special interest to Great Britain.—A short account may be
useful of the branch lines referred to in condition (4) above.
(a) Mohavimerah-Khorcmabad, ivith a port at Khor Musa. 0 —There has
been a consensus of opinions as to the advantages of a railway in this part of
Persia, where we have a useful ally in the Sheikh of Mohanimerah, and
where the Anglo-Persian Oil Company are already carrying out extensive
operations. The opinions include those of Sir G. Barclay (27, 42), Mr. C.
Green way, Managing Director of the Oil Company (43), the Government of
India (46), and Lord Curzon (Appendix IX.)
In March last communications passed with the Russian Government, with
the result that Russia agreed to the British Government applying for an
option for the construction of the railway, provided that work was proceeded
with only after a friendly exchange of views between the two Governments
(52, App. vii.). The Persian Government on being addressed (53, App. viii.),
returned an ambiguous reply (54), but Sir G. Barclay was informed by
the Minister for Foreign Affairs that his Government would be prepared
to consider proposals from a British group for general railway construction
(54, 55), and negotiations are now proceeding on the basis of His Majesty’s
Government (as distinct from private parties) standing entirely aside (56).
A survey of the country through which a Mohammerah-Khoremabad line
woidd pass has recently been carried out by Lieutenant Wilson (60).
(h) Bunder Abbas (or Charbar) to Kerman .—This also has been recognised
as a useful commercial line (30, 36), and in 1909 a group supported by the
* Khor Musa is a small inlet from the Persian Gulf at the east of the Shatt-el-Arab.