"ملخص لعلاقات الحكومة البريطانية مع قبائل وشيوخ عربستان. بقلم الملازم أ. ت. ويلسون، القائم بأعمال القنصل في عربستان" [ظ‎‎٤‎٠] (١٤٣/٨٥)

66
closin'* of the Karuii. They were prepared to lend money to the Persian
Government if such a concession could be secured and even to assist in the
execution of the project if it was shown to be feasible and remuneiative. 1
extension of German influence into the Karun and Khur Musa tract would
be most prejudicial to British interests. If Germany were allowed to make
s?ich a loan she would acquire influence over the whole of Mohammerah and
the eastern shore of the Shatt-al-’Arab. Russia would presumably assmt us
in keeping out Germany. The retention of the Karun district by the Brit s
would P have the additional advantage of securing support to a^dy exisU g
concessions of the Bakhtlari and Lur roads, both of which en a •
Nothing more, however, was heard of German intervention thong
the Dutch Minister did his best to use this possibility as a lever to induce
the British Minister to co-operate an the Dutch scheme for an internal 10 a
svndicate. . , .
In December 1906, the Mu’in-ut-Tujjar, representing himself as speaking
on behalf of the Shaikh of Mohammerah, announced to Sir Cecil bpring-Kice
that the Shaikh was opposed to any foreign concession or to foreign financial
help, but would like to form a purely Persian Company and to engage as ad
viser a foreign expert. No doubt the Mu’in had in his mind the Nasin Co
pany, of which he is the embodiment and which has been so profitable to him-
self. But the Shaikh of Mohammerah when questioned on the subject ol tne
Mu’in’s remarks assured His Majesty’s Consul that the Mu’in was not a.uthor-
ized to speak on his behalf and that he did not hold the opinion credited to
him by the Mu’in. . ,
The Dutch scheme for an International Syndicate may be summarized
as follows :—The Company to be registered in Holland and under Dutch
jurisdiction and its principal officials to be of Dutch nationality.
The concession to last for 80 years.
The staff at Ahwaz to be international.
The capital to be 35 million francs of which 40 per cent, to be Dutch and
20 per cent, to be taken up by the Sadr A’zam, of which 5 millions as an ad
vance to the Persian Government, 4,000,000 as cost of floating Company, am
1 000,000 as reserve funds—a somewhat disproportionate allotment.
It was not until August 1907 that Major Morton produced his final
report. According to the plans and estimates he had prepared the cost o
the scheme worked out at £450,000 : the dam which was to be of the needle
type would command 250,000 acres, of which 150,000 would be irrigable
annually. The annual revenue would be 8 per cent, out of which sinking
fund charges and interest on capital would have to be met
The population required to cultivate the canals would be about 15,00U
families—say 75,000 souls,—an addition of 50 per cent, to the population ot
’Arabistan who are under the Shaikh’s control.
In October 1906, His Majesty’s Minister addressed the following note
to the Persian Government:—
It has come to the knowledge of His Majesty’s Government that a scheme is under
consideration having for its object the concession of extensive rights to a
foreign company in the neighbourhood of Ahwaz for the purpose of construct
ing and operating irrigation works on the Karun.
The Persian Government is well aware of the interests possessed by British subjects
in that district, which have indeed been the subject of special orders and
direct encouragement of His Majesty the late Shah, and of lengthy corre
spondence between the Governments.
A project of the character above stated is evidently calculated to introduce a very
considerable change, both commercial and political, in the existing situation
on the Karun, and whilst expressing from this point of view its sincere
sympathy with all projects of a nature to develop the resources of Persia, this
Legation is instructed to state, that in view of the friendship so kappilv
existing between the Governments of the King and the Shah, Sir Edward
Grey is confident that no definite step will be taken in this matter above-
mentioned without previous reference to His Majesty’s Government.
* In November 1907, the German Minister told the Netherlands Minister that there was no intention of
asking for the Karun irrigation concession for a German Firm.