مجموعة ٢٨/٩٠ "بلاد فارس. زيارة وزير الشؤون الخارجية الفارسي إلى أفغانستان والهند." [و‎‎٩‎٣] (٣١٣/١٨٥)

easily be refuted, anc the O^rreyiBaant of Inriia, admitting
the ^uetiee of the Iranian contention, interv ed to
separate the two ftmotions and appoint a separate Viee
Couptul at zabul. fhere were, however, naturr lly financial
difficulties involved in the creation of a now post, and
I said we should be fateful if his Government would agree
to the present system continuing for a short time while
these were being examined* He lid not demur, and asked
for how long, in answer to which it was suggested two
months might suffice* He took a note of this*
He then raised the question of the Jdahiaan
railway* I attempted to make it quite clear that we could
not in any case consider this on merits until The
atmosphere had been cleared by the Iranian Government
giving an earnest that Indian sublets in Eastern Iran
would receive better treatment than they had hitherto.
After that I said we were not ooponed to extension on
principle, but in the present state of Inbo-Irsnian trade,
the railway would inevitably v/ork at a considerable loss,
so thst we would have to be assured that a definite
financial or commercial advantage elsewhere could be
obtained either by improving the prospects of Indian
exports to Iran, or by other means. I also made it clear
that technical difficulties as regards such natters as the
erection of two stations at Mirjawa remaine for
consideration* For our station we should no doubt re uire
a lease of land from the Iranian Government* I
reitoreted that the ouestion could not in any case be
consider-*d on its merits un^il the position as regards the