ملف رقم ٩٤٨ لسنة ١٩٠٩ "بلاد فارس: الوضع في الجنوب؛ حالة الطرق. الهجوم على السيد بيل. برنامج حرس الطرق". [و‎‎٣‎٥‎٤] (٧٤٤/٧١٢)

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No. 1212 (Confidential), dated Bushire, the 23rd (received 31st) May 1909.
From^ Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
To—S. H Butler, Esq., C.S.I., C.I E., Secretary to the Government of India in
the roreign Department, Simla.
I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Government of
India a copy of a despatch No. dated 21st April 1909, which His
Majesty s Consul at Shiraz has addressed to Sir George Barclay on the subject
of the insecurity prevailing between Bushire and Ispahan and of oossible means of
mitigating it. 1
2. In my telegrams of 16th instant from Fao I have already stated that I
see no prospect of any improvement in the present depressins? commercial outlook
unless we take steps in some form to police the trade routes from Bushire and
Bunder Abbas to the interior. Mr. Bill now discusses a suggestion recently
made by Messrs Dixon and company of Manchester, one of the chief British
exporters to Southern Persia, that the services of the line patrols of the Telegraph
Department should be made use of for the speedy communication, by portable
telephone, ot news regarding molestation of caravans or the presence of robber
gangs on the roads.
3. From a political point of view a scheme calculated to provide some
measure of security for caravans through the instrumentality of the Telegraph
Department and thus to avoid any ostensible intrenchment upon Persian indepen-
C ^ advantages ; it remains to be seen how far the Depart
ment concerned will see its way to co-operate in the matter. The great measure
of good will and immunity from molestation which its employes have enjoyed in
the past is doubtless due to the well-understood fact that they are servants of a
Department which works for the convenience of the public and does not concern
itself with trade or politics, and also because most of the peasant community are
glad at some time or another of the help or friendly offices of the officials of the
Department at the various centres.
* How far this desirable state of things could be maintained if the personnel
became actively identified with the protection of the road and the safe con
duct of caravans is a problem which will no doubt occupy the careful considera
tion of the Directorate concerned. In any case it is clear that to make any
scheme in the direction suggested effective, the enrolment of a considerable body
of ghulams would be necessary, for it would be obviously useless for the indivi
duals on line patrol duty to telephone news to the nearest station, if there were
no body of men ready there to take the necessary action on receipt of it.
The strengthening of numbers, however, is a mere question of expense and
adjustment, which could no doubt be satisfactorily arranged between the Depart
ment and his Majesty’s Government ; the chief issue will doubtless be found to
turn on the question of the extra risks likely to be involved by the identification of
the personnel of the Telegraph Department with measures taken for maintaining
the security of caravans; and until their views have been expressed, it is prema
ture to discuss the scheme in greater detail.
No. 18-M., dated Shiraz, the 21st April 1909.
Prom—J. H. Bill, Esq., I.C.S., His Britannic Majesty’s Acting Consul, Shiraz,
To—S ir George Barclay, K.C.M.G., C.V.O., His Britannic Majesty’s Minister,
Tehran,
Bushire road-—Protection of.
With reference to the despatch No. 28, dated 10th March 1909, from His
Majesty’s Consul-General, Ispahan, to your address, a copy of which was for
warded to me, I have the honour to offer for your consideration, the following
observations on this subject, with a suggestion towards a remedy.
i
*