ملف رقم ٤٣٤٥ لسنة ١٩١٢ "السكة الحديدية العابرة لبلاد فارس" [ظ‎‎١‎٥‎٩] (٣٣٠/٣٢٣)

r
29
It could be explained that from the British point of vi?ur the preferable course is to maintain
the strategic isolation of India and to avoid the outlay of vast sums of money on a project
which offers but little prospect of financial success or of commercial advantage; that in
agreeing to co-operafe with Russia in the construction of the through Hue, we are making
a considerable sacrifice; and that the only stipulations we think it necessary to make are such
as will safeguard the vital interests of Great Britain. In return for this sacrifice it would, we
suggest, hardly be too much to ask Russia to forego once and for all any design for the
extension of the Trans-Caspian Railway along the border of Afghanistan in the direction of
the Indian frontier—an extension which, in tue words of the Russian Consortium, “ wordd be
strategically rather dangerous for the English”. We recommend therefore that, in addition
to the other stipulations which we have mentioned, the acceptance of the proposed through
connection be made conditional on the giving of a pledge by Russia that she will not at any
time, without coming to an understanding with Great Britain, entertain or support any
proposal for a line in the neighbourhood of the Peiso-Afghan border within the Russian
or neutral zones.
Conpimion. 12. To summarise our conclusions :—we recommend that the Government of India
accept the proposals of the Russian Consortium in principle, subject to the following modific
ations and conditions :—
(a) that the point of junction of the main through route with the Indian railway
system be at Karachi and not at Nushki;
(J) that the route from Yezd to Karachi be via Bandar Abbas and thence alon®
the sea coast, subject to reconsideration as the result of actual survey ;
(c) that concessions be obtained for branch lines—
(i) from Bandar Abbas or Charbar to Regan, Bam and Kerman;
(ii) from Mohammerah to Hamadan;
(iii) from Mohammerah to Bandar Abbas via Khor Musa, Behbehan and Shiraz;
(iv) from Bushire to Shiraz and Ispahan ;
(<f) that both the main and the branch lines in Persian territory be international,
Russia and Great Britain holding a preponderating share and Persia being
admitted to participate;
(e) that the gauge of the line passing through British territory and the British zone
be different from that of the line in the Russian zone, and that the break of
gauge be at Bandar Abbas on the limit of the British zone;
(/) that in return for our co-operation in the main project, Russia should pledge
herself not to entertain or support, without coming to an understanding with
Great Britain, any proposal for a line in the neighbourhood of the Perao*
Afghan border within the Russian or neutral zones.
8lh February 1911,
W. H. C[lark],
D. Haig.
T. R. Wyjtnb.
J. B. Wood.
♦