"القرض الفارسي. برقيات، ٢٠ يناير - ١ أبريل." [و‎‎١‎٥‎٩] (٢٢/١٩)

From Sir A. Hardinge to the Marquess of Lansdoicne,
30^A March 1903.
(No. 44.) Your telegram No. 30.
There is not, properly speaking, such a thing as a draft upon the Southern
Customs. Local Custom-houses pay their receipts into the Imperial Bank
of Persia in the south and into Russian Bank in north, and these credit
Persian Government to their amount, that Government making payment of
interest to each Bank out of those funds.
Southern Customs would be the security proposed, as the northern are of
the Russian loan, and it should be stipulated in case of repayment of capital
or payments of interest falling in arrears that the advance should be the first
charge upon these Custom-houses.
The Persian Government are precluded from pledging the Southern
Custom-houses or placing them under foreign control, but there is nothing
to prevent their giving a draft on them to anyone they like. The above
pledge would, however, be greatly strengthened by the operation I propose.
I have not yet discussed with M. Naus the guarantees to be desired against
the reimbursement which I personally think remote, as Persia’s total debt to
English Bank will then be 500,000/., but I can do so as soon as I am
authorized to treat with entire question.
(Sent to India.)
F'om the Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir A. Hardinge,
30/^ March 1903.
(No. 32.) Your telegrams Nos. 43 and 44 of 28th and 30th March seem in
general harmony with proposal in our No. 30, of 28th March, and as we
understand your present proposal, it would provide effectually for tulfilment
of our conditions. We are, however, doubtful as to there being any advantage
in requiring security of Caspian fisheries. This seems to be needlessly
provocative of Russia. We wish her to leave us alone in the south, and are
prepared to leave her alone in the north. We attach great importance to
guarantees against reimbursement.
(Repeated to India.)
From Secretary of State to Ficeroy , 30/A March 1903.
Foreign Office telegram, No. 30 of 28//* March, to Sir A. Hardinge,
regarding loan to Fersia, crossed his telegram No. 43 of same date, which
seems to strengthen necessity of some such policy as is suggested, in the
Foreign Office telegram, and renders it more than ever desirable that our
action should be rapid. The matter seems of great importance, and the
earliest possible expression of your views is desired, with a mew to which I
repeat to you Lord Lansdowne s reply to Sir A. Hardinge: " There appears
to be general harmony between your telegrams Nos. 43 and 44 of 28th and
30th March and my telegram No. 30 of 30th, and your present proposal, as
we understand it, would provide for effectual fulfilment of our conditions.
We attach areat importance to guarantees against reimbursement. Regarding
Caspian fisheries we are doubtful whether there is any advantage in asking
for this security, which seems to be needlessly provocative of Russia. We
are prepared to leave her alone in the North, while we wish to be left alone
in the South”
/
S. 19.
F