'Volume I. MEMORANDA REGARDING PERSIA AND NORTH-WEST TRANS-FRONTIER. 1905.' [‎16v] (37/310)

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result of the former’s action in regard to
the arms and ammunition above referred to.
The existence of this impression is not alto
gether to be regretted.
23. Monsieur Wagner has temporarily
assumed charge of the office of Director-General
pending the arrival of Monsieur Heinsman,
who has been appointed Director-General.
24. Henj am-Bunder Abbas telegraph
extension .—On the 19th March, Sir Arthur
Hardinge telegraphed that the Persian Gov
ernment had agreed to the Henjam-Bunder
Abbas telegraph extension {ride Memorandum
for December 1904, paragraph 15), and that
he would discuss the matter with the Minister
of Telegraphs after the Mohurram. He stated
that the Persian Government desired to build
the line themselves with the assistance of the
Indo-European Telegraph Department, but
that in their present circumstances they would
probably find difficulty in paying for it.
On the 26th March 1905, Sir Arthur
Hardinge telegraphed that the Persian Gov
ernment had officially notified their willingness
to construct the Henjam-Bunder ilbbas tele
graph line via Kishra with English engineers
and material, without employing any foreigners.
The Persian Government stated that no diplo
matic Convention, such as those for earlier lines
administered by us, would be necessary, but
that the Mushir-ed-Dowleh would be ready to
sign an agreement with us defining the con
ditions under which our engineers would be
employed.
Sir Arthur Hardinge drafted the following
agreement:—
navin«
Vi; ine lersian Government
resolved^ to construct the line, and His
Majesty’s Government having authorised the
Indo-European Telegraph Department to
provide engineers and materials, it is aoreed
that two European engineers, with the neoes-
sary native staff, shall be provided by the
Department, and that a telegraph ship shall
lay the submarine line as soon as possible.
(2) As soon as the line is completed and
cost or materials and other charges of the
engineers are paid, the line shall be handed
over to the Persian Minister of Telegraphs
The charges to be made shall not exceed Us!
tw u!'° P t ersiai ? Government’s declaration
that it will not employ non-Persian subiects in
working the line shall not preclude it from
emp oying such subjects in the service of the
Department for repairs in the cables, or other
work which may be necessary in connection
with the maintenance of the line, and in thU
case the latter shall be entitled to make t «
usual charges for such seryices e