Page 315 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

CHAPTER I.
Evidences of Foreign activity in the Persian Gulf.*
(i) Increase of Russian Influence in the Persian Gulf.
A Russian Consulate General was established at Baghdad in December 1880.
Russian Consulate General at Baghdad, l8So. Colonel Eberhard was the first Consul*
Political A., March 1881, No. 147. General appointed.
He left Baghdad in January i8S6, informing the British Consul-General that
the interests of Russian residents there had
External A., March, N01. 362.264.
been placed under the protection of the
Consulate of France.
2. In 1886 a Russian firm, Messrs. Boghanoff of Marseilles, appointed an
A Russian firm at Bandar Abbas, 1886. Armenian Agent to open business at Bandar
External A., April 1886, No. 38. Abbas.
3. In 1886 one Mr. Sapienza, a Russian, was sent on a mission to Tehran
Railway project to Persian Gulf, 1886. with a project for a railway from the Caspian
Secret E., February 1S87, No*. 163*165. sea to the Persian Gulf. .The scheme had
been hastily drawn up, probably on hearing rumours about some British project
for a railway and nothing came out of the mission.
4. In connection with the Persian activity in 1887-88 to extend their influence
Alleged cession of an island in the Persian Gulf in the Persian Gulf of which ail acCOUllt is
.888, No, 214-10, given in Chapter IV (Sections XXVI and
s®cretE., August 1888, Nos.322-225. AAVlIJot the Persian coast and Islands
PrdciSi 1854-1905, there was a rumour of cession of an island in the Gulf to
Russia. The Shah however repudiated most emphatically the reported cession
of any island or place on the Gulf to Russia.. Nothing, he said, would make
him consent to it or anything else prejudicial to British interests and that the
question had never been mooted. (Telegram from Sir H. Drummond Wolff,
dated 24th April 1888 to the Resident.)
5. A Russian Agent by name Darchinbegs Millioncheff was sent to Shuster
A Russian in Arabistan ,lSSg. and the Karun in March 1889, to watch
Secret E-. April 1889, N01. 187-88. probably the British movements on the
Karun river.
6. The appointment of a Russian ^Consul-General was renewed in 1889,
Re appointment of Russian Consul-General at probably in view of the Opening of the
is«,rtE!,MM;,cb.889,Na.27. Karun river to navigation.
Secret E., May 1889, Nos. 568-571.
7. In 1890 owing to the rivalry existing between the English and Russian
Bar to Railways in Persia for to yean, 18QO. Governments as to railways, the Shah
Altchinsont treaties (1892), Volume X, Appendix
No. 25(Persia). made an agreement with the Russian
Government that no railways should be made in Persia during the next ten years.
Kaii*ay projects in iSgo-oi. 8. From 1890 to 1892 we hear of several
till count..- projects ol railways to the Persian Gulf.
mirki).
9. In April 1892 the following telegraphic correspondence passed between
Sir Francis Lascelles and the Marquis of
Secret E., July 1892, Nos. 250-251.
Salisbury

Telegram P„ dated the 19th April 1892.
From—Sir Frank Lascelles, Tehran,
To—Viceroy, Camp*
I have forwarded the following telegram to London
No 59. I am told that an arrangement has been come to between a Russian, who
undertakes co obtain the consent of his Government and an English Syndicate, for the pur­
pose of constructing a railway from the Caspian to the Persian Gulf.
• For portion* of this chapter I am indebted to the Foreign Department Memoranda on Evidences of foreign
activity in the Persian Gulf, running from 1899 to 1903. '
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