"مسائل متنوعة. بلاد فارس ١٨٨٢-١٨٩٨: خرائط، أوراق حكومية ... إلخ". [و‎‎٥] (٢٠٢/٩)

Persia little of the frantic fanaticism and hostility
to foreigners that are rampant in China, and if the
system has been a conspicuous success in the
latter country, I cannot see why it should fail in
Persia.
Sir M. Durand says that the one obstacle is the
Sadr Azam, who now farms the Customs from the
Shah, and makes 40,000Z. a-year by sub-contracts.
But why not square the Sadr Azam by the same
methods that it is always possible to adopt with his
master? If under any new system it can be shown
to the Shah that he will make 10,000/. a-year
more than he did before, and to the Sadr Azam
that he will make 5,000/., they will both be ready
to put it into operation to-morrow. It would seem
to be a pity to shelve as impracticable the one real
chance of Persian reform simply because the
avarice of an individual Minister, and he a Persian,
stands in the way. Surely it should be within the
resources of diplomacy to conciliate or come to
terms with the Sadr Azam. Might it not in any
case be worth while to consult Sir M. Durand on
the matter ? I believe it to be the only method of
really benefiting Persian administration, and at the
same time of strengthening British influence and
popularity in the country.
8. We have tried the experiment of officering
the Persian army before now. It is not the
slightest good as long as the soldiers do not get
their pay. You want not merely British officers,
but a British War Minister at Tehran. It will be
time enough to think of it again, if ever we are
in occupation of any part of the country, not
before.
9. The post at Kesht does not appear any longer
to justify an expensive Consulate (750/.). I would
reduce it to a Vice-Consulate, and spend the money
better elsewhere.
10. Particularly would I like to see some interest
taken in Seistan. It is contiguous to Afghanistan.
It is certain that when Persia breaks up we cannot
allow it to be quietly absorbed by Russia. If it is
so absorbed, she will get to the Gulf. Seistan is a
British interest. That the bulk of it now belongs
to Persia is due to us. I think we might do
something to safeguard for Persia that which we
have secured for her, and which we cannot afford
to let pass into other hands. In proportion to the
interest we show in Seistan now will be our
opportunity of saving it in the future.
I may add that it would be a great pity if