§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether information had been received at the Foreign Office respecting any works in progress or in contemplation by British or Native enterprise for the opening up of the navigation of the Karun River from the Persian Gulf? He said, the question had reference to the concession made while the late Government was in Office. The Karun River was the means of access from the head of the Persian Gulf for a length of 115 to 120 miles, and would, if it could be utilised, give the Persian Government an opportunity of carrying her produce down the. Gulf to India or to England. It would also give our own vessels access to Ahwaz. He understood there was an obstruction at Ahwaz; and he wished to. inquire whether any steps were being taken to remove that obstruction, so as to give access to the higher waters of the Karun, and thereby to the heart of Persia? He was anxious that the trade of those parts should be in the hands of the British people, and should not fall into the hands of a Foreign Power.
THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANsaid, he believed that a tramway was now being constructed from the waters above to below Ahwaz. He might state, from personal observation on the spot, that the obstruction, or bund, referred to was partly natural and partly artificial, and a large sum of money would be required for its removal, or to make a sufficient water-way through it. Moreover, the effect of its removal would not be what the noble Viscount seemed to think. A canal would be an alternative method of overcoming the difficulty; but a more 653 practical mode would be the construction of a light tramway, which, he believed, was actually in contemplation. Another point in which he had taken great interest was as to how far British commerce might be encouraged. His impression was that the whole commerce of the Karun River was opened up by British merchants named Lynch; but a Persian Company had done much to hinder British commerce, and the British Company had been placed in a rather difficult position. He hoped the noble Earl would be able to give some indication that that Company, which had first opened up the Karun River to commerce, would not be placed at a discount by the selfish proceedings of the Persian Company.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI think, from what I can gather, my noble Friend who has just sat down has shown himself more able than I am myself to answer the question of the noble Viscount. It is correct that a tramway is being constructed to form a connection between the upper and lower waters of the Karun at Ahwaz. Meanwhile, the traffic is being carried by Arabs and donkeys. With regard to the traffic, Messrs. Lynch are endeavouring to come to some arrangement with the Persian Government for obtaining proper accommodation for storing their goods. The traffic in the upper part of the Karun is reserved to the Persian Government, and is only carried by steamers in their service. Under the regulations of the Persian Government, it is stipulated that shipowners shall not erect anything of their own on the banks of the river; but Messrs. Lynch are trying as much as they can to push their trade on the Upper Karun. As regards the obstruction at Ahwaz, the noble Marquess has answered the question with much greater knowledge of the river than I possess. For a certain distance the river is open to the vessels of all nations. One of the Companies possesses a small steamer, which is used principally as a tug, and has put up a building on the left bank. New Government buildings, with excellent accommodation, are being constructed at Mohammara. I do not think I have any other information at my disposal. The noble Viscount made the remark that I attach little or no importance to the trade now being carried on under the 654 concession to the Russian Government. That is not so, but I do not attach to it sufficient importance under the advice of experts upon the spot to offer any opposition to it. And, indeed, it is rather a dog-in-the-manger policy to obstruct the development of an ancient State because that particular development is not being carried out by ourselves. I do not think that is a policy which the Government or this House would care to be responsible for, and we can only oppose a concession of this kind when the interests of this country are in any way vitally at stake. However, I hope the noble Viscount will not think I am indifferent to what takes place in that part of the world.
§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHwished to know whether the Persian Government had absolutely prohibited any foreign vessels on the upper waters of the Karun River?
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI do not think there is any absolute prohibition; but I think there is a tendency on the part of the Persian Government to insure a monopoly of the traffic on the Upper Karun, and Messrs. Lynch are endeavouring to break through that monopoly.