"ملف رقم II/١٢ مذكرات معلومات من إدارة الخارجية بخصوص شؤون بلاد فارس والساحل العربي من الخليج الفارسي. يناير "٠٩ --" [ظ‎‎٦‎٦] (١٧٨/١٣٢)

14
with the Director of the Indo-Europerm
Telegraph Department and an individual who
was in close touch with the Nationalist party.
Shortly after this, Sir A. Nicolson received
the reply of the Russian Government to his
memorandum about Persian telegraphs. The
principal points mentioned were—(1) the
necessity of effecting as quickly as possible the
exchange of telegraph lines‘to Seistan and
Meshed (paragraph 6 of the Memorandum
for May) ; (2) the employment of Russian
signallers on the Arabistan lines, as the
Pussian Government held that the present
wording of the agreement was too vague
and left it open to Persia to insist on
her previous sanction being obtained to the
employment of Russians; (3) that extra lines
from Tehran to Shahrud (paragraph 8 of the
Memorandum for March) should be begun at
once; and (4) that Russia should be supplied
with certain information which should satisfy
her as to the financial position of the Tehrau-
Khanikin line.
Sir G. Barclay pointed out that the settle
ment of these questions would cause an un
desirable delay, and that any alteration of the
Convention now would arouse suspicion. Sir
E. Grey accordingly enquired whether the
Russian Government would be satisfied with
the reservation which had been suggested by
them in regard to the future employment of
Russian signallers. Russia thereupon replied
thot she had no objection to the immediate
signature of the Convention without alteration,
provided the proposed secret Anglo-Russian
Agreement contained a clause to the effect
that, should Russia desire at any time to
employ signallers on these lines, such signallers
should be considered as employes of the Indo-
European Telegraph Department and should
be attached to that Department, the explan
ation being that her sole object was to ensure,
in the event of the development of her trade
in those regions, the efficient transmission of
Russian messages.
. Sir Barclay was accordingly instructed
to sign the Convention at once and without
alteration, and Sir A. Nicolson was requested
to inform the Russian Government that the
British Government agreed to the terms pro
posed by her in regard to the employment of
Russian signallers, that the question of the
exchange of the Tehran-Meshed and Khaf-
Seistan lines would be taken up at the first
favourable opportunity, and that, in regard to
the remaining points, a reply would be sent
later.
15. (Vide paragraph 15 of the Memo.
Abu Musa red oxide. for May 1909.)
T> i.,. , „ . 0n the 2n d June, the
1 ohtical Resident in the Persian Gulf reported
that the German Consul had been informed