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«efficient working ' to ‘ maintenance/ and it was accordingly made. The British Government
oro thus at liberty to do thoso things which are necessary for the efficient working of the lino.
« 3. Tho Shah objooted to this stipulation, I presurao, beoauso ho considered that it cast
a doubt on what ho claims to bo his indisputable right, and as it insertion or omission appears
to mo of no importance to the object in viow, it was omitted.
*'4. I do not think that tho Shah would have accepted 3,000 Tomans a year to allow us
to treat with the Sheikh of Bunder Abbas, or any other Chief on tho coast of Beluchistan,
nor would he bavo consented to accept a money grunt of 3,000 Tomans a year, on condition
of paying it away to Native Chiefs under his rule for tho protection of tho lino. But bo
would accept it himself, with tho proviso that it should be expended iu protecting the line,
and it was so stipulated.
" 6. It is proposed that tho Convention shall remain in for twonty years. If tho
British Government have no interest working tho lino during the wholo extent of that period,
there is nothing whioh binds them to do so; and if they wish to rouew the Convention if
I do not seo any obstacle which may prevent their doing so.”
VI.—“I communicated, a few days ago, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs a translation
into Persian of the modified Article II of a
1868.
Mr. Alison, to Lord Stanley, 23rd January. Telegrnphio Convention, oouveyed to me in Your
Lordship's telegram of the 5th instant.
“I received to-day a messago from His Excellenoy to 6ay that tho King considered the
phrase ‘for the use of suoh parts of tho coast and dependencies ' to bo vague, and requiring
explanation. In the original Article it was made clear that the 3,000 Tomans a year were to
be paid to the Persian Government for contributing to protect tho lino; but it would now
■ seem as if the coast and its dependencies were to be rented for that sum, while it wa6 not
apparent for what purpose, and what were tho dependencies, nud to what uso were they to bo
applied ?
“I answered that the expression ‘tho use of tbo ooa6t and dependenoios* obviously means
their use for telegraphic purposes, aud the Under-Secretary, who brought me the King's
message, said that it would bo necessary to make somo alteration in the modified Article, to
givo expression to that meaning.
VII.—“After a great deal of discussion respecting the modification of Article II of the
proposed Telegraph Convention, tho Persian
Mr. Allison, to Lord Stanley, 28th January.
Government agreed to the text sent in my
telegram of this date. They wish it to be clear that tho 3,000 Tomans a year were to be paid
for the use of the Telegraph, and not for the use of the coast and its dependencies.
“They pressed strongly for mention of the whole liue of coast being: mnde as belonging
to Persia; but I again explained that we could not agree to that, as both the Khan of Kelat
and the Imam of Muscat had olaims on certain portions of it, aud they finally withdrew.
“Your Lordship will observe that in the text now modified they engage to protect the
line only as far as they can, which seems to be reasonable enough.
VIII.—“I received to-day Your Lordship's telegram of the 6th instant, enquiring whether
I had signed the Convention or come to terms
Mr. Aliion, to Lord Stanley, 11th April.
respecting the Mekran Telegraph ?
“ I beg to explain that some delay took place in signing the Telegraphic Convention,
owing to the extreme backwardness of the Persian Government in granting permission for
the establishment of a telegrnphio station at Angaum. It seemed to me that the clause
introduced into the draft of the Convention would not give us the right to establish such a
station, and I was therefore anxious to obtain that concession before signing the Convention,
which I had been several times invited by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to conclude. After
a good deal of procrastination and evasion on the part of His Excellency respecting Angaum,
I applied directly to the King, and His Majesty having granted his sanction on the 30th of
March, I signed the Convention on the 2nd of April."
43. The ratified Convention, communicated by telegram, is as follows :—
“ Article I.
“ In order to protide against any accident to the Persian Gulf Cable, it is agreed that
the British Government shall make arrangements in regard to the construction and efficient
working of a line of Telegraph between Gwadur and a point between Jask and Bunder Abbas.
“ Article II.
“ The Persian Government will employ her good offices and authority for facilitating its
construction, maintenance, and protection ; and the English Government will pay annually to
the Persian Government the sum of 3,000 Tomans for leave to lay down a line of Telegraph
on those parts of Coasts and places which are under the Sovereignty of Persia, the payment
of the above sum being made from the day upon which the work of laying the wire i s
commenced•
“Article III.
“ The present Convention to remain in force for twenty years'*