TRANS-PERSIAN RAILWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15048, 18 July 1912, Page 9

TRANS-PERSIAN RAILWAY

NEW ROAD TO INDIA.

PROGRESS OF THE' SCHEME.

[from OTO own correspondent.] London, June 7. The projected Trans-Persian line for link' ing up the Russian and Indian railway systems is making progress towards realisation.: The British Government has

throughout strongly upheld tho necessity for absolute equality of "British, Russian, and French control in the undertaking, and when, some weeks ago,- the arrangements proposed were thought not to meet this view, certain modifications were suggested, and soma members of- the Russian group camo to this country last week in connection with this phaso of tho situation. .

Before their arrival the position with regard to the Societo d'Etudes (the preliminary organisation which has the plans of the projected railway in hand) was that in the railway company which was to be formed for the construction and administration of the TransPersian line, tho Ruusian promoters (as . the initiators of the scheme) should -have the .right to subscribe for certain shares in addition to those to be subscribed by British, French, and Human bankers. Sir Edward Grey (Minister for Foreign Affairs), however, objected to this distribution aa creating a preponderating Russian element in the undertaking.

The Russian promoters have now agreed to & modification, thereby ensuring equal 1 participation of the three nations in the w hole finance of the undertaking. This arrangement was arrived at after conferences in Paris, London, and St. Petersburg, and also at '.an important gathering held aft the Board of Trade, at which, in addition to other interests, the Foreign and India Offices were represented. ' A formal memorandum was drafted and submitted, to the British Government, and this the Foreign Office has accepted, as being completely satisfactory to His Majesty's Government. In convoying an intimation to this effect the Minister for Foreign Affairs paid a tribute to the friendly and conciliatory spirit shown by the Russian Committee in 80 willingly meeting the views expressed for the absolute equality of control between tho three national groups in all companies to be formed for carrying out the Trans-Perejan railway scheme. The only difficulties existing at .thjs stage havr ing been arranged, the various groups will meet in Paris in about a week for the pur* pose of -formally constituting the Societe d'Etudes. The business of completing the survey of the line and of obtaining tho necessary concession from Persia will then be taken in hand, and it is hoped that this _ xti&y be completed within a few months, as a great portion of the route has already been surveyed. Tha Soeieto d'Etudee will" consist of a council of administration of twenty-four arsons, composed equally of British, French, and Russian members, and includes a president ami two vice-presidents. The president nominated is Si. Riandre, a French diplomatist of the rank of Ambassador, the vice-presidents being Sir William Garstjn and M. Homiakoif, ex-Presi- j dent of the Russian Duma. The other numbers will include .tho leading British, French, and Russian bankers, and eminent British and Russian and Indian engineers. In addition, there will be ft representative committee of direction. I The question of the break of gauge bej tween the Russian and Indian systems, on which the Indian Government has already expressed its views, is one of 1 the many questions to be settled, but Renter's Agency is. informed that no difficulty is likely to arise over this matter,' as Russia is quite 1 prepared to meet the views of India on' this question.