Page 382 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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40. A Report on this subject had already been addressed by the Chief
Director of the Telegraph to the Bombay
No. 17, dated Slat March 1807.
Government. Accompanying wero copies
of a correspondence with Her Majesty’s Minister in Porsia during the negotia­
tions. The following extract from memorandum of an interview with the Persian
Minister of Foreign Affairs shows the littlo willingness or littlo power of that
functionary to discuss the question of the Coast Tolcgraph, even apart from
tho larger and more comprehensive schomo :—
,rNo course now remained, but to put tho alternative of the lino from Gwadur to Jask
under a guarantee. This I did in general terms,
Colonol Goldsmid, to Mr. Alison, No. 11 of
6th Maroh 1807. and when discussion ensued, and the Persian map
of the country was referred to, I exjilained that
I any details into which I might ontor must bo considered ns brought forward by mo as Director
of the Indo-European Tclograph, not as a Political Oflicer. 1 was naturally interested on
behalf of telegraphic communication, and knew the tracts discussed, perhaps, better than any
one in Tehran, from actual inspection. Tho sea-coast was comparatively cut off from tho
upper country by a rugged hill range. Tho Beluohis of those hills had little to say to tho
const, whioh was mostly inhabited by poor fishermen. The Wakil-ul-.Mulk, Minister of
Kerman (to whom 1 had more than a year ago been referred by Mirza Said Khan himself, for
information as to bis eastern boundary), had himself told me he had no authority by the sea-
board, nor could lie oven authorize Major Smith to proceed thore, though ho could readily
pass me to Bampur, a point further east, but within the hill range. Tho case was therefore
simply this, i.e., the Persiaus admitted they could not protect a Telegraph Hue along tho
coast of Beluchistnn. We have already done all we needed in that respeot from Kurrachee to
Gwadur. It would be easy enough to do the same on this side of the coast. It seemed to
me that a guarantee of non-iuterference in the political part of tho question could be in no
way detrimental or unsatisfactory.
Mirza Snid Khan made no definite or distinct replies, but repeated tho general argu­
ment that his Government was not ready to come to any understanding on the erection of a
lino of Telegraph in Beluchistan or Persia Proper. He hoped I would not press it.”
41. As stated, however, in the Chief Director’s subsequent Progress
No. 83 Of 22nd Jono 1867, paragraph 3. Report to the Government of Bombay,
Secrotary of State for India, to Governor of there was “ good roason to believe” that
Bomby, s.. 1 Of 7th May 1888, AppcnJi. A. this very que8tion 0f the Coast Telegraph
could “be re-opened within the year, and with fair prospect of success.” The
anticipations thus recorded proved true. Later in tho year at Tehran the King
had returned from his pilgrimage to Meshed. And in London, the matter had
been resubmitted to the India Office. Later still, Mr. Alison, under instruc­
tions from the Foreign Office, took up the thread of the argument, only
temporarily abandoned, and negotiations recommenced in earnest.
42. The progress and rosult of these negotiations may bo seen in the
following extracts of letters addressed to the Right Honourablo tho Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs
I.—“In pursuance of the instructions contained in Your Lordship's despatch No. 38 of
the 3rd of September, I sought an interview with
Mr. Aliwn, to Lord Stanley, 27th October.
the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, for tho
purpose of renewing the negotiations for tho line of Telegraph extending from Gwadur along
the Mekran Coast.
“ After I had stated briefly the object and proposals of His Majesty's Government, the
Minister went over the reasons which had induced the Persian Government to decline diseussing
or entering upon any negotiations on this subject. Persia, he said, apprehensive that the erection
of a line of Telegraph solely by the agents of a foreign power, in districts over whioh she at
present exercised only a limited authority, might have the effect of imperilling that authority,
of diminishing her influence, and, perhaps, even of affecting her frontier line. It would require
an army to protect such a telegraphio line, and in her inability to provide one for that pnrpose,
the ta*k of protecting the line would naturally form the subject of an agreement between the
British Government and the local Chiefs, audthis likewise would tend to disparage the Persian
Government, and to render those Chiefs more or less independent of her authority. The
Minister was not aware of any instance in which our Government had been permitted to erect
telegraphic lines at its own expense, and by its own agents, in the territory of another. If
the main object to be attained were to provide against the contingency of the disablement
. of the submarine cable, the British Government might easily provide another cable, to bo
ready in case of accident. * * * * Persia bad hitherto been unable to con­
solidate her authority on the Mekran Coast, owing to the want of sullicieut pecuniary means,
but she had lately turned her serious attention towards that object, oud not without hopes of
succeeding.