IOR/L/PS/10/104

Correspondence discusses the construction of telegraph lines in Persia. Issues discussed include the implications for Britain's relations with the Persian government and how influence could be achieved. Also discussed is the British strategy for negotiating with the Russians who held a sphere of influence in northern Persia, in order to secure British interests in their sphere of influence in southern Persia.

The route, costs and staffing of a number of telegraph lines are discussed: Meshed-Seistan, Meshed-Tehran; Robat-Seistan; Nasratabad to Koh-i-Malik Siah, as well as the costs involved in upgrading the lines before their permanent transfer from the Indian Telegraph Department to the Indo-European Telegraph Department. A further isssue discussed is how to overcome a Russian monopoly on the cypress woods which were an essential material for a construction of a telegraph line. Arrangements for the dispatch of British signallers to staff the telegraph offices also features in the correspondence.

The file contains a number of statistical tables as well as a technical drawing and a map showing the telegraph offices on the Meshed-Nasratabad (Seistan) line (ff 109-110).

Correspondents include: Gilbert Elliot-Murray Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, Viceroy of India; Sir Arthur Nicholson; Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary; Sir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice; Mr Evelyn Grant Duff; John Evelyn Shuckburgh; H M Consul at Seistan; Sir Walter Beaupré Townley, Minister for Persia.