"ملخص للأحداث الرئيسية. ١٩٠٨" [ظ‎‎٤‎٦] (١٥٦/٩٧)

Rebuilding of the In January 1908 the Superintendent of Surveys, Dehra Dun, asked the
“-Agent to'tlie Governor-General in Baluchistan for permission to build a survey
Maiit Swh. station on the site of the present boundary pillar at Kuh-i-Malik Sian, winch
was only a pile of stones. Sanction was granted under the impression that the
pillar was merely one of minor importance. It was afterwards discovered, how
ever, that the pillar in question was that of the tri-junction of the British,
Persian, and Afghan boundaries. Orders were issued, therefore, that it was not
to he interfered with, but they arrived too late. The pillar was afterwards re
built as nearly as possible identical with the old cairn, but in a very much
more solid and permanent manner.
sbai P kh iC o£ 0n M 0 uham e On Ihe * completion of the agreement between the Shaikh of Muham-
raareh and the Bakh* mareh and the Bakhtiari Khans, an application was made by them to be
tiari Khans to be offi- i ii T^roiight under British protection. It was decided that it would he
England. undesirable a& present to give the Bakhtiaris any assurances beyond an
expression of mendly sympathy; but that in the case of the Shaikh of Muham-
mareh, the general assurances already given him might be repeated and
extended to his successors, and that it might be further pointed out to
him that His Majesty’s Government have engaged to respect the independence
and integrity of Persia, which involves the maintenance of the status quo in
that country, and includes the continuance of the present state of autonomy
possessed by him.
Suspicious Russian In June a certain Russian, by name Peodoroff, travelled to Sistan vid
raveiier. Birjand. He could speak no Drench and gave himself out to he a doctor;
whilst in Sistan he made a tour on the Mian Kangi frontier alone, and subse
quently re-visited the same district in company with the Uussian Vice. Consul.
He was reported to have visited the frontier from Takht-i-Shah to below
Kutak, taking notes and photographs and making sketches. Apparently his
original intention was to have proceeded to the Persian Gulf coast at Bandar
Abbas, hut sanction was refused by the Russian Minister at Tehran. Pinally
he left Sistan to return to Russia, travelling up the Afghan frontier, about
the middle of August. On his return journey he gave rise to some anxiety,
as it was reported that he had been captured by Afghans. Other information
leads to the belief that this man was on some special mission.
British and Rus
sian Loans.
The amount of interest due from the Persian Government in February
on the British loan was £13,60U, the interest portion of the instalment which
should have been paid in April 1907. On the 18th February £1,300 interest
was paid, and the balance on the following day. His Majesty’s Government
stated that they were ready to accede to the request of the Persian Government
for the suspension for three years of the sinking fund on the loan of 1903-04.
In March it was reported that the Imperial Bank had lent sums amounting
to £50,000 to the Persian Government for which payment could not be
obtained.
Foreign Loans. j n j atmaT y the German Charge d’Affaires in the course of a discussion
with the British Minister said that in his opinion a foreign loan was absolutely
necessary for Persia. The Mushir ud-Dauleh about the same time informed
the British Minister that the wish was to raise a sum to consolidate the
whole of Persia’s indebtedness (£5,200,000) and to provide a substantial
amount to reorganise the general administration and the collection and re
adjustment of internal taxation. The Persian Customs, amounting in 1907-08
to £620,000, would be offered as a guarantee for a loan of £7,000,000. A
proposal to raise additional revenues (2,500,000 tumans) by an increase of
duties on sugar was also brought forward. In July the Persian GovernmeDt
was reported to he in the greatest straits for money. In September the
British Government declared they were prepared to advance £400,000 in con
junction with Russia on certain conditions in case the question were to develop.
The Russian Government agreed in principle to the proposal for the joint
construction of a railway from Julfa to Muhammareh, and considered that the