ملف ١٩٠٤/٢٧٦٤ الجزء ٣ "سكة حديد بغداد: مفاوضات عامة ١٩١٠-١٩١٢." [و‎‎١‎٢‎٣] (٥٤٤/٢٥٤)

U.'&lK,'*'
From Viceroy, 18f/?, January 1911.
Foreign Secret, Your telegram of 14tli. Trans-Persian railway. I
venture to think that the extension of the Russian zone for the purposes of
the Russo-German agreement is an advantage rather than the reverse. It
was previously possible for Germany to build railway to any point on the
Afghan frontier between Gazik and the intersection of Russian and Afghan
frontiers. It is now only possible to do so after an understanding with
Russia. In view of the terms of the preamble of agreement concerning
Persia, in which our interest in the provinces adjoining frontier of Afghanistan
was expressly stated, we have right to demand of Russia that she shall not
agree to support intervention of any third Power in regions where our interest s,
are distinctly stated in Anglo-Russian Convention, otherwise object of Con
vention which was to prevent all cause of misunderstanding between Great
Britain and Russia will be frustrated. That Germany has the right to seek
concessions in the rest of neutral zone is an indisputable fact. Our oniy
means of preventing our political and strategic interests in Southern Persia
from being disadvantageous^ affected is to remind German Government of
their assurances to His Majesty’s Government, and to repeat when occasion
arises to the Persian Government our warning against grant of any conces
sions that may prejudice our political and strategic interests in Persia, and,
if necessary, to threaten that we will take steps to safeguard our own
interests.
_