"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [و‎‎٤‎٤] (٣١٠/٩٢)

t 7 ]
Persian Gulf—a position founded on histori
cal privileges and therefore not to he judged
by the rules observed by other nations—it
appeared to be more consistent with Indian
interests to limit the negotiation to the con
clusion of an arrangement with the. Persian
Government in regard to parcel mails only,
as it was arguable that the Government of India
would be gratuitously abandoning their present
advantageous position if their rights were to
be formulated in a Postal Convention as
desired by M. Naus. The former course has
also the advantage that H. M.’s Legation
could probably carry through the negotiations
without the assistance of an Indian official
whose deputation to Tehran at the present
time would be inconvenient to the Govern
ment of India.
Sir Arthur Hardinge’s views were request
ed on this suggestion, as well as on the follow
ing alternatives:—
(a) Matters might stand over at present,
and the opportunity of the International
Postal Congress next year might be taken to
arrange for an informal discussion of the
postal questions involved between Mons. Naus
and the representatives of the Indian Post
Office. This would enable us to ascertain
what M. Naus’s views really were, and would
clear the way for the drawing up of a Conven
tion on lines which could be laid down by
Government after receiving the report of our
postal delegates. If this suggestion should
be accepted, it could no doubt be arranged
that the status quo should be maintained until
the new Convention or agreement was entered
into.
(b) If, on the other hand, he should con
sider it desirable, for political reasons, to enter
into negotiations at once, the difficulty as to
the selection of a postal officer might be over
come by an officer of the Indian Political
Department being deputed to Tehran to nego
tiate, or assist in the negotiation of, a Conven-
tion/after having received a course of instruc
tion from the Indian Postal Department in all
necessarv points. In view of the large political
element that entered into the present question,
it mioffit even be held that the Government of
India 5 would he more suitably represented by
a political than a postal official. In that case,
it might be useful to obtain a preliminary
assurance from M. Naus in writing to the
effect that the proposed negotiation would be
conducted on the basis of the continuation of
the rights at present claimed for the Biitish
Post Offices in Persia.
30. General—With reference to the
agitation against M. Naus (paragraph 25 of
Memorandum for August), Sir A. Hardmge
reported on the 8th August that he had had an
interview with Saiyid Abdulla on the 4th