ملف رقم ٤٠٤٥ لسنة ١٩١٣ "الجزء ١، السكة الحديدية العابرة لبلاد فارس" [ظ‎‎٩‎٨] (٣٤٩/٤٠)

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of^railway development in tlie south as will render possible an early, and if possible
simultaneous, start in construction from the Persian Gulf.
(c) That His Majesty’s Government are committed, and were so before the
constitution of the Societe d’Etudes: that the concessions in question are the
Bunder-Abbas-Kerman one in the British sphere (which would have to be purely
British-controlled), and certain lines in the neutral sphere (other than the Mohammerah-
Khorremmabad project) which, in view of the great predominance of British trade,
should be preponderatingly British, though not without a substantial international
participation both in construction and management.
(d.) His Majesty’s Government would be prepared to recommend to the parties
interested in the projects (other than the Mohammerah-Khorremmabad line) in the
neutral sphere that it would serve British interests if they would join with the British
group of the Societe d’Etudes, who, in consultation with His Majesty’s Government,
might then arrange the degree and nature of the foreign participation in question.
I am to express Sir E. Grey’s view that the arrangements for securing British
control on certain portions of the line need not necessarily conflict with the principle
of equal representation of British, Russian, and French interests in the undertaking
from the northern frontier of Persia to the sea.
In conclusion, I am to state that, subject to the acceptance of the conditions laid
down, His Majesty’s Government are willing to support yonr Societe in the negotiations
proposed at Tehran; but that they would recommend the substitution of the words
“ d’un chemin de fer traversant la Perse du nord au sud par Teheran” for the words
“sur territoire persan, &c., &c., .... par Teheran ” in the note which you propose
to address to the Persian Government (see enclosure A in your letter of the
20th December).
I am, &c.
LOUIS MALLET.