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APPENDICES TO CHAPTER III.
Appendix I.
Reports by Colonel Ross on the Karun River Navigation.
No. 11, dated Bushire, tho 12th January 1882 (Confidential),
From—Libotenant-Colonbl E. C. Ross, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and
His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-Genoral for Fars, etc.,
To—C. Grant, E6q„ C.S.I., Officiating Secretary to the Government of India,
Foreign Department.
I have the honour to submit, for tho information of His Excellency the Viceroy and
Governor General in Council, the following confidential report on tho existing state of the
question of the proposed opening of the Karun river to navigation, and the prospects of oppor
tunities arising for forwarding British interests in tho matter.
2. The advantages of the opening of this route to British coramcrco have been so repeatedly
and exhaustively 6et forth, and ore so fully recognized on all hands, that it would bo super
fluous to repeat or to add to tho arguments bearing on that part of the subject.
8. Almost all tho best authorities, also, are agrcod os to the suitability of tho Karun
for navigation by steamers of light draught of water from Mohammorah to Shuster, and the
practicable nature of tho schorao as regards this particular point. There is only ono part of the
river at Ahwaz, where at present there is a break, and there I believe it has been contem
plated to construct a canal with locks. Considering, however, that the Karun has not been
surveyed for *0 years, it seems very advisable that it should be surveyed afresh by a compe
tent person, and it would be best for tho mercantile firm who proposo to run steamers to
ascertain exactly the capabilities of tho river, and also the practicability and probable cost of
constructing a caual at Ahwaz.
4. Tho proposal to place steamers on tho Karun emanated from the firm of Messrs. Gray,
Dawes & Co., and it was originally sought to obtain au exclusive concession in their favor
from the Persian Government, and also a subsidy from the British Government. At the
present timo Her Majesty’s minister at Teheran is endeavouring to obtain from the Persian
Government the opening of tho Karuu to trade generally with no monopoly nor special privi
leges to British merchants, and according to the latest information from Teheran, the Shah had
referred this request of Her Majesty’s Minister to his son, the Zil-us-Sultan. Whether the
reference to His Royal Highness the Zil-us-Sultan has resulted from that Prince’s own sugges
tion and influence with His Majesty the Shah, whether it is meant iu earnest, or merely an
expedient for gaining time and evading an immediate decision, may be considered uncertain at
present. I am inolined, however, to tbiuk that the Zil-us-Sultan has himself contrived to have
this matter referred to him.
5. On arrival of the present Governor of Bushire, Aga Muhammad Mirza, a protege
and confidant of the Zil-us-Sultan, I received private messages from the Prince, expressing his
great desire to render himself useful to the Government of India. It occurred to me that the
power placed in the Prince’s bauds, and his great influence with the Shah, might enable him,
if so disposed, to carry out the desired opening of the Karun, and I mentioned to the
Governor of Bushire that, if the Zil-us-Sultan could do so, it would be an excellent way of
showing his good-will to the British Government. The Prince has since been in communi
cation with Messrs. Gray, Paul & Co., the Bushire branoh of Messrs. Gray, Dawes & Co., on
the subjeot, and has made minute inquiries into details of the scheme. On the 4th of this
month Mr. R. Paul had an interview with the Governor of Bushire to give 8oroe information
on this subject, and the next day I made some inquiries of the Governor which elicited a
private message on the part of the Zil-us-Sultan, the purport of which I enclose. I have
Enclosure No. 1. thought it best to comply with the Prince’s
request to be furnished with arguments in suppoit
of the view that it is better for Persia to give the preference to tho British in tho matter of
the proposed couccsssion. I have, accordingly, to the best of my power, put down such argu
ments as I think best calculated to serve the purpose, and have sent them privately through the
Governor. I enclose the English version of what
Bacloaure No. 2.
1 have?aid. As regards the Zil-us-Sultan’s ambi
tion to receive a British Order, I intimated that it is not a matter on which I could say
anything.
6. Government are aware that, undor encouragement of the French Government, a line
of itoamers has been established between Marseilles and Busrah, and certain French officers
have recently established themselves at Mohammerah. From the proceedings of these
officers, and their being connected with the military and naval services of France, it has
appeared probable that their objects go beyond ordinary commercial business at Mohammerah
and that they aim at obtaining a fooling and influence in Persian Arabian. It may be fairly