Page 383 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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<r I obsorved to tho Minister that the interest which tho British Government had always
ovincod for tho welfare and integrity of Persia afforded her sufficient proof that we would
not propose to her any meneuro which might have tho effect of impairing her authority, or of
depriving her of a part of her territory. Indeed, tho proposals now ruado of associating Persia
in an undertaking to ho curried into offect in districts over which the authority of the Shah
was so very vague, afforded a proof of the friendly disposition of Ills Majesty’s Government;
and although tho Persian Government was not in a position itself to protect the telegraphic
lino projected, tho fact of her receiving a yearly subvention towards that purpose eviuced
the interest which was felt in maintaining, and not impairing, her influence. Persia had
therefore nothing to loso, and something to gain, bosides the merit of contributing towards a
useful object; while the British Government was ready to declare that the arrangements to
bo outcred into would in no manner affect any rights claimed by Persia in the districts
through whiok the line was to pass.
“ Tho Minister, who did not impress me with tho idea of being favourable to the soherae,
promised to lay the subject before the King, and state to him what had taken place at our
conference, while I engaged, on my part, to draw up two Articles respecting the project, to
bo submitted for His Majesty’s inspection.”
II.—“ I considered it desirable to communicate confidentially with tho Shah on the
subject of the proposed lino of Telegraph from
Mr. Alison, to Lord Stanloy, 18th Novomber.
Gwadur westwards. * * * * *
After several messages to and fro, I had the satisfaction of learning that the King had
approved generally of the scheme, and that, confident in tho assurauoes that I had conveyed
to him, he might be disposed to do even more than I expooted.
“The Minister for Foreign Affairs, after some days elapsed, sent me a message on the
subject of the two Articles which bad beou submitted to the King. IIis Majesty bad taken
objection to the passagos underlined, * * aud, at the recommendation of the Minister
for Foreign Affaire, I bad no difficulty in expunging them. It . was thus to be expected
that the Articles so modified would have been accepted without further discussion.
“On the loth Mr. Thomson was invited by the Minister to proceed to his house, to
couvey to me the King’s answer to the proposals respecting the new line. The first munshi
having received intimation of a counter-project entertained by the Persian Government,
which would, in my opinion, imply a recognition by the British Government of the right of
Persia to a jurisdiction over territory as far as Gwadur, I instructed Mr. Thomsou to point
out to the Minister the necessity of avoiding anything of a political tendency in the arrange­
ments under discussion.
“ The counter-project of tbo Shall is contained in the enclosed copy of Mr. Thomson”
Report:
u < The Persian Government would purchase the material in England, and construct the
line at their own cost, under the superintendence of English officers, and would also undertake
to guard it, and allow it to be worked by an English staff of telegraphers.’
“This scheme, however plausible, seemed to me 60 impracticable and so objectionable in
some respects, that I waited on the Minister the following day to elicit further explanatipns
on the subject. His Excellency having requested me to state ray objections to the King’s
project, I begged that he would first thank His Majesty for having taken this matter into
favourable consideration, and recognized the necessity of erecting the land line under
disoussion. It was my duty to give due consideration to anything coming from the Kiog,
but the only objeot iu contemplation was an efficient telegraphic line, and the King’s project
did not appear to me calculated to attain that object. In the first place, it presented the
difficulty of involving political discussious, which it was sought so muoh to avoid. According
to their proposal, they would commence operations in the territory of the Khan of Kelat,
which extended westwards to the Dusht Khor, and this would naturally be opposed.
“ The Minister met this objection by saying that operations might be commenced at the
other end, and that subject taken up as au approach was made towards tho Kelat country.
* * * *
“ Nevertheless, I begged that His Exoellenoy would state my views of these difficulties to
His Majesty, and point out to him how well calculated to obviate and overcome them, was
the plan which had been submitted to him. We should not desire to see Persia binding
herself by Treaty to do impossible things. The Minister bad himself observed that they
had little or no' authority in the district through whioh the line was to pass, and that they
would require an army to protect it. If they bound themselves by Treaty to do so under
Buch circumstances, we should have ever recurring occasion to remind them of their engage­
ments. They might, in consequence, become involved in disagreeable affairs with the Chiefs
of BoluchiBtan, and, instead of having a Telegraph, we should have opened a source of excess,
trouble, and annoyance.
“ The Minister, while upholding the willingness and power of the Shah to overcome all
foreign difficulties, enquired how the English officers would proceed to work? I said that,
furnished with ample funds, they would no doubt pave tho way through all difficulties; that a
telegraphic line in such a country required rather to be let alone than to be protected, and that
the looal Chiefs would secure that objeot for a pecuniary consideration.