"الخليج الفارسي وخليج عُمان. الموارد والدفاعات الساحلية. ١٩٠٣." [و‎‎٤‎٦] (١٢٠/٩٨)

APPENDIX.
83
Russian trade
in Central
and South
Persia.
Railway con
vention.
that region. The foreign trade of N. Persia was originally
built up by British merchants, working through Russian terri
tory and encouraged by the Russian Authorities. The modern
development of Russian industries led, however, to a change of
policy, which, by means of preferential freights for Russian
goods and political pressure on Persia, have practically driven
British manufactures out of the N. Persian market.
he great bulk of the trade at the present day is in Russian
hands, and, under existing conditions, is likely to remain so.
Russian cotton goods already have the upper hand in Central
and bouth 1 ersia, and the Russian Government is making a
determined endeavour to build up a commercial position in the
1 , ^ lth thl8 . view > reduced railway and steamer
freights have been established on yoods from the chief Russian
towns by vvay of Odessa to Jidda, Aden, Jibuti, Maskat, Jashk,
.bunder Abbas, Linga, Bushire, Basra, and Baghdad. The
immediate object of this is, perhaps, political rather than com-
mercial, but, to some extent, it may be intended to discount the
effect on the trade of N. Persia by any non-Russian railway
constructed in the future from a port on the Gulf coast.
According to the so-called Secret Convention of 1890 between
Kussia and 1 ersia, the latter (it is understood) “ engages neither
t0 construct a railway in Persia nor permit others to do so,
and will not grant any concession for the construction of
railways in Persia to anyone.”
This agreement expired in 1900, and was then renewed for a
term of five years.
The Persian Customs have recently been taken over by a
Belgian administration, which appears to be efficient. It is
ostensibly independent of Russian influence, but it may be noted
that Belgium is politically sympathetic to France, and that
-belgians have considerable financial interests in S. Russia.
!t ,T he reliable portion of the Persian Army is the
Cossack ^ cavalry brigade, which is commanded by a Russian
officer, assisted by several Russian instructors. Under the cir
cumstances, this small force Yvould doubtless play an important
part in any internal crisis.
“ t'T .1 la W e -. G0 ; er r ent ,h n , W . a ? f ! 0ated the Eussian RussianLo&n
Banque des 1 rets de 1 erse (which is connected with the
Russian State Bank), an endeavour to place the loan with *
* According to a statement published in June 1903, the Grand Duke
Alexander Mikhailovich, the Chief Director of Russian Commercial Navi-
gation and of Harbours, has been empowered to conclude a contract with
the Odessa Steam Navigation and Trading Company for the establishment
of regular communication with ports in the Persian Gulf. By this agree-
ment the Russian Government grants the Company an annual subsidv of
fii i '• j roubles) for 12 years beginning in 1903. Further, the
tolls levied on vessels passing through the Suez Canal will be repaid to the
Company by the Russian Government. The Company is to send three
vessels every year to the Gulf.
Persian Cus
toms.
Persian
Army.