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38. His Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Tehran reported on the 12th
Movements of Russians in South-Western Persia, February 1901 that two Russian officials,
Secret K., May 1901, Noj. 46 47. one a high employd of the Russian Minister-
of the Interior and the other a Colonel of Cossacks who was a trained Surveyor,
had recently visited Kcrmanshah. They left vid Khoremabad and Dizful for
Mohammerah whence they intended returning through the 3akhtiari country to
Ispahan.
39. A Mr. Aglionby, who had been travelling in Persia, reported that the
Russian Consulates in Southern Persia, Russians intended opening Consulates at
Secret E., July 1901, Nos. 94-95. Shiraz, Bandar Abbas and Mohammerah.
Sir A. Hardinge also reported to the same effect. He believed that Russian
Cossacks would be attached to each of
Secret E., August 1901, Nos. 47*53*
these Agencies.
M. Pokitanoff, Russian Consul at Resht, was appointed Russian Consul-
General at Bushire and was also to have
Secret E., August 1901, Nos. 119*121.
a guard of Russian Cossacks.
40. Sir A. Hardinge reported on the 6th May that information given to
Additional Russian loan to Persia. him pointed to existence of arrangements
Secret E., July 190!, Nos. 96*97. for a fresh loan from Russia, for which
Resht and neighbouring districts were given as guarantees. M. Naus, the
Director of Persian Customs, however, assured the Manager of the Imperial
Bank of Persia that there was then no question of a fresh foreign loan.
On the 29th July, a further report was received to the effect that an agree­
ment for a new Russian loan of over a million had been actually concluded, and
that the Zil-es-Sultan had announced it as a fact.
41. Captain Schneider reported on the 2nd April 1901 that, while travel­
ling from Tehran to Europe, he met a
Russian railway schemes in Persia,
Russian Engineer named Roskovsky who
said that he had been sent by his Government to survey for a line of railway in
Persia. From the photographs he shewed and from what he said, Captain
Schneider gathered that the line was to run from Elizabepol in Russian territory
to Julfa, Tabriz, thence to Tehran, Ispahan, Yezd and on to a port in the Persian
Gulf. M. de Roskovsky declined to say anything as to the date or the time
when the line was commenced.
42. In conversation with the British Consul-General at Ispahan, the Zil-es«
Sultan mentioned on the 13th April 1901
Secret E.( July igoi, No. 14.
that some Russian Engineers had told him
that they had a concession from the Sadr Azam to build railways in the south of
Persia, and that one was for a line from Julfa to Tabriz through Hamadan to
Ispahan, vid Shiraz to Bandar Abbas or Bushire.
43. Mr. Swift, the English tutor to the sons of the Zil-es-Sultan, in a con-
versation with Sir A. Hadinge in April 1901, mentioned that Prince Dabija, the
Desirs of the Russians to acquire a port on the Russian Consul-General at Ispahan, had
Persian Gulf. told him quite openly that the Russians
Secret B., July igoi, No. 98.
required and intended shortly to have a
port on the Persian Gulf.
44. Maskat, lyth July.— S.S. Assyria arrived from ’Bombay with a Russian
visit of a Russian and an Italian to ifasiat. and an Italian doctor on board, said to be
Diary of the Political Residency in the Persian bound for Basrah to take charge of the
Gulf (or the »cck ending s,h August .90.. quarantine arrangements at that port.
45. In view of the repeated mention in the French and Arabic newspapers
Proposed Persian Consul at Maskat. of the intention of the Russian and Arabic
Secret E., August 1901, Nos. 128-129. newspapers of the intention of the Russian
Government to appoint a Consular Officer at Maskat, Captain Cox asked for the
views of the Government of India as to the advice which might be given to the
Sultan should any move in that direction be made.
46. The Government of India submitted the point to the Secretary of State
with the following observations (Despatch No. 142-Secret—External. dated
8th August 1901)’