File 4345/1912 'Trans-Persian Railway' [‎119r] (242/330)

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[This Docmnent is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]
[A]
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[November 18. J
Section 1,
[Amended Cory.]
[49172] No. 1.
Viscount Errington to Sir L. Mallet.—(Received November 18.)
(Confidential.)
gi r 8, Bishopsgate, London, November 18, 1912.
’ SOCIETE Internationale d’Etudes du Chemin de Fer Transpersan.
In the temporary absence of Sir William Garstin, I beg to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter addressed to him on the 14th instant relative to the Trans-Persian Railway
project. , . . , , ,
' Note has been duly taken of Sir Edward Grey s views m regard to the proposals
outlined in Sir W. Garstin’s letter of the 4th November.
In the course of my conversation with you and Mr. Parker at the Foreign Office on
the 15th November I had occasion to explain, in regard to Sir William Garstin s letter
above mentioned, that the text of enclosure (A) to that document was drawn up in
Paris at the last meeting of the Societe d’fitudes, and represented the considered views
of that body as to the form of request to be presented to the Persian Government
which would best promote the interests for which this societe was established^
In the absence of specific details as to the extensions from the trunk line upon
which the company may desire to obtain options in order to safeguard their interests,
it was held desirable by some members of the British group to enumerate such exten
sions as the Russian and British delegates of the societe might consider it desirable to
discuss on arrival at Tehran. A note (enclosure (B)) specifying these extensions
was consequently appended for the information of the Foreign Office. #
In view liow6\ r 6r> of tlis opinion now ©xprossod. cis to tlio mcibility of flis MnjGsty s
Governments lend their support to the Societe d’Etudes in acquiring a concession for
some of the branches indicated, we would submit that the note constituting
enclosure (B) should for the present be suspended in so far as extensions from the
trunk line in the neutral and British zones of Persia are concerned. .
While the Societe d’Etudes will be glad to be favoured in due couise with the
detailed views of His Majesty’s Government on the proposals already submitted,
I venture to hope at the present stage of proceedings that, m view of the suspension
of enclosure (B), the attention of the Foreign Office m the matter of the Irans-
Persian Railway may more particularly be concentrated upon enclosures (A) and (O)
of Sir William Garstin’s letter. . . . ,
In the opinion of the Societe d’Etudes, it is undesirable that the arrangement
arrived at between the British and Russian groups should become known to the
Persian Government, and, consequently, the societe propose that the final text ot
enclosure (C) should be considered as strictly confidential.
It has already been intimated to the loreign Office that the delegates o the
societe contemplate starting for Persia about the middle of_ December, and m view o:
the expediency of enabling the British member, Mr. Harrison, to co-operate with his
Russian and French associates, I venture to nope that the Foreign Office may see tieir
way to giving at an early date a clear indication of the support Mr. Harrison may
expect to receive from His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran m negotiating with the
Persian Government on behalf of the Societe d’Etudes. , • , , »
It was with this object in view that enclosures (A) and (0) were submitted for
consideration on the 4th November, to allow of discussing with the I rench and,
Russian groups such modifications in the text of these documents as the Foreign Office
might require prior to affording support to the societe^ m^on to Persia.
ERRINGTON.