'Persia and the Persian Question by the Hon. George Nathaniel Curzon, M.P.' [‎490] (549/714)

•ii
490
PERSIA
Eoad-
making
policy
will thereby be brought within twelve days by caravan of the Persian
Gulf, instead of the forty to fifty days that are the minimum now
occupied by beasts of burden following the familiar mule-track
via Shiraz from Bushire.
Lastly comes the heading of projected, discussed, or contem
plated roads, a class which, whatever the ingredient commodity, is
Projected always well-stocked in Persia. In my chapter upon
Azerbaijan, I have mentioned the long-talked-of, but as
yet uncommenced, roads from Tabriz via Ardebil to Astara on the
Caspian, and from the Turkish frontier at Bayazid via Khoi to
Tabriz. The Shah is also willing to grant, or has already granted,
concessions for wagon-roads from Teheran to Tabriz, from Tabriz
to Julfa, and from Zinjan via Hamadan to Burujird. It goes
without saying that all these roads, if constructed, would be of
great advantage to the undeveloped resources of the country;
although, in the present backward condition both of agriculture
and population, some of them might not produce an immediate
return, and others would be remunerative in different ratios.
Political considerations will render some of these roads more
favourable to British, others to Russian, ambition. Broadly
speaking, roads from the north and north-west will benefit Russian
commerce, and, if it ever arise, Russian aggression; roads from
the south and south-west will benefit British influence. I prefer,
howevei, not to regard this question from the outside-nation point
of view, conceiving that the true interests to be regarded are
those of Persia, and that to whatever schemes can be devised for
flu amelioration of that country, both Russia and England should
lend a helping hand, opposing no obstacles of a purely selfish
charactei, but extracting in friendly competition whatever of
commercial advantage they can from that which is primarily
beneficial to Iran.
It is, indeed, to the extension of roads, and at a future date of
railroads (for the latter vide Chapter XVIII.), that the energies of
all friends of Persia should be directed. They will be
inclined to favour the one or the other method, according
as their conception of the due rate of progress is slow or
rapid. The more cautious spirit, whose motto is Festina lente, the
eternal Yavash of the Persian vocabulary, declares that he will be
content for the time being with the repair or construction of good
cart roads between the various trading centres and from the sea-
Ht