File 5646/1918 'Persia and Mesopotamia: future telegraphic arrangements' [‎143v] (298/303)

XXXI.
Agreement between Great Britain and Persia
Telegraph Line connecting Seistan wmi the
Malek Siah Kuh on Persian Territory (191b)
respecting the CONSTRUCTION of a
Central Persia Line at a point near
Whereas on the 17th of Shaval 1332, according to an official note addressed by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to the British Legation, the extension of a telegraph line from Seistan to
Kuh-i-Malek Siah was authorised, and as in the above-mentioned note this authorisation was
made subiect to an agreement to be concluded with the representatn e of the Ministry of
Posts and Telegraphs, the following articles are hereby agreed upon
Article 1.
The line shall connect Seistan with Malek Siah Kuh at a point near the Perso-Baluch
frontier where the Persian Telegraph Administration may open an office, the wire being led
into the Persian Telegraph Offices, the Persian signallers being free to transmit local traffic.
Article 2.
The Persian Government reserve to themselves the right to liquidate the cost of the line,
less 2,500L, by payment extending over 30 years, and to assume control of the line at that
date if the liquidation be complete.
Article 3.
Should it become necessary at any future date to add a second wire to the line the Indo-
European Telegraph Department can do so at its own expense, and in 1945 this wire too will
become the property of the Persian Government under the proviso of Article 9, and revenue
derived from work on this wire will be treated according to the terms of Article 7 of this
Agreement.
Article 4.
None but Persian subjects or employes of the Indo-European Telegraph Department
shall be employed on the Seistan Line or in the offices.
Article 5.
The Indo-European Telegraph Department shall be responsible for the control and the
cost of the maintenance of this line, including repairs and renewals, control and payment of
the Gholams, and in return for this, the Persian Government agrees to allow messages to and
from the British Consul, Seistan, being passed free of charge up to an extent of 150b per
annum.
Article 6.
The salary of the British Inspector and clerks of the Indo-European Telegraph Depart
ment employed on this line will be paid by that Department.
Article 7.
The revenue derived from the local traffic, messages originating at one Persian station and
terminating at another Persian station, shall belong entirely to the Persian Government.
. As regards International messages originating or terminating in Persia, the Persian
Government shall receive two-thirds of all bona fide terminal messages, and as regards transit
messages—as this line is merely an alternative one—the arrangement already made as
detailed in Article VIII. of 1872 Convention will be applied.
Article 8.
The line from Meshed to Seistan being merely a single wire line it is understood that this
route can only be used for international transit traffic, within such limits as will not interfere
with the ordinary traffic of that line and only when the communication on the two existing
routes between Persia and India is totally interrupted; whenever the Director of the
Indo-Telegraph Department requires to use the Seistan Line as a route for transit inter
national traffic, the permission of the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs must be obtained.
Article 9.
After the control of the line has passed into the hands of the Persian Government, it
shall not be handed over to any foreign Government or any Company, but it can again be
handed to the Indo-European Telegraph Department by special arrangement agreeable to the
parties concerned.