Correspondence and Papers on Persia [‎54r] (91/107)

Effect of
miscon
ceptions
regarding
country.
visible is due more than anything else to the tact and
ability of the Amin-ul-Sultanat, or Px-ime Minister, whose
diplomatic talent is the main support of the existing
Government.
37. It is much to be regretted that the many miscon
ceptions regarding the countiy of Persia should have been
allowed to exist in the minds of the European
public without any attempt at removal on the
pax-t of those better acquainted with the facts
of the case, for their results can in no way
contribute in the long run to the benefit of the
country itself, or, in the case of our own
country, to the extension of our national influence therein,
for the consequence has been that there has been an influx
into Persia of European adventurers whose only object
has been to obtain from the Government privileges which
they could forthwith part for for cash to Eux-opean specu-
tors, while the Shah himself has been tempted to intro
duce a system of indiscriminate granting of concessions
for monopolies—a method of replenishing his pi‘i\ate
purse on the part of the monarch of an Oriental country,
the demoralising influences of which upon himself,
and the disastrous effects upon his subjects have been too
strikingly visible in the case of Egypt, which is a far
richer countiy than Persia, not to make every genuine
well-wisher of the latter most anxious not to see a repeti
tion of such an experience on its part.
The trade of Persia is, and always must be, limited,
though doubtless capable of some extension; but
such a good object would rather be forwarded by the
introduction of European capital for the promotion on
open and unprivileged terms of the special bx-anches of
produce or industry for which the counti’y is suited than
by the granting of concessions of various natures to
private individuals, whose, first idea is to dispose of the
piuvilege thus obtained—not, of course, without con
siderable expense to themselves—to the best advantage
possible, the last idea that ever entered their heads being
that of working it themselves, or thus developing the
particular branch of local industry included in the
concession.
The company or commercial body to whom the con
cession is sold must naturally recuperate themselves
for the expenditure they have so far incuri-ed withou t any
tangible result, and also pay a sufficient dividend, besides
maintaining all the current expenses of probably a large
establishment. It is thus not difficult to see that the in
habitant of the country is not likely to benefit much in the
long run by the encouragement of such enterprises ; and
it is to be feared that a reaction may ensue alike disastrous
to the national influence as to the pockets of the share
holder, when it is found that the only means of making
ends meet is to raise the price of the particular article of
commerce for which the concession has been granted.
The natural products of the Persian Empire are tobacco,
silk, cotton, wool, wheat, wine, and opium, and any steps
taken to attract European capital to aid in the extension
of these industries could not but be beneficial in pro
moting the general well-being of the people.
C. E. B1DDULPH.
Waterlow Bros. & Layton, Limited, 21, Birchin Lane, London, E.C.