Settlement and Demarcation of the Frontier between Persia and Baluchistan [‎414v] (64/74)

itself with one of small dimensions; that the goal had just been obtained, the
distance still to be traversed being comparatively trivial; that we were now only
asked for a slight concession, which to a sovereign like that of Persia could haidly
be refused; that the General had it in his power to do all that was required, and
that he certainly could not hasitate to do it; that His Majesty had now abandoned
much to meet the wishes of Her Majesty’s Government, together with many
similar allusions to the request communicated on the previous evening that Kohuk;;
might be included within Persian territory. I further understood the Minister to
say that if this modification of frontier were not granted, the King might, peihaps,
retreat (bargardadj from his former concession.
Though I might, perhaps, have been justified in pleading a discussion virtually
closed as a bar to reply, I repeated my regrets at being powerless in the matter.
It was impossible for me to deviate from the line of conduct hitherto pursued.
Prom first to last I had consistently maintained one particular frontier, as that of
possession on either side, and it was not in my power to give away this or that
tract at pleasure. In adjudicating a claim involving coppers as well as tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. ,
I must give the copper as well as the gold to the rightful claimant. Whatever
my wish might be to act in conformity with the Shah’s ideas, I was powerless to
do so, if the act were not also in conformity to my duty. I need not trouble
Your Excellency, nor could I tax my memory, with all the arguments urged in this
strain. Mr. Dickson kindly added much in support and explanation of the
position in which I was placed, pointing out to the Minister in accordance with
my own views that the King, in accepting the boundary, pur et simple, might
always express what had been his own wishes with regard to Kohuk. But it
seemed to me that any such expression should imply the geographical advantages
contemplated in the proposal, as regards obtaining a good physical boundary.
Mr. Dickson then, at my request, brought to the Minister’s notice the question
of the Seistan arbitration, explaining what were the wishes of Her Majesty’s
Government, and what had been the nature of my mission in accordance with
those wishes. The Minister said little, but did not admit that he had understood
the case in such light. Joining in the discussion, I remarked that, if any procedure
were agreed to similar to that proposed in the memorandum from the Persian
Foreign Office of the 24th July 1870, and recently accepted for Mekram, it was
clear that an Afghan Commissioner should accompany us to Teheran.
Mirza Saeed Khan said that to this arrangement there would be no objection.
However, he would lay the matter before the Shah, and send a speedy reply on
what His Majesty was prepared to do herein. It was explained that Her Majesty’s
Government was quite ready to act as had been now verbally represented as
regards arbitration, but that if a different arrangement were preferred, the counter
proposal should be put at once as there was no time to be lost. The horses of
the mission were at Kirmam, and would be taken on to Bam some 10 or 12
marches only from Seistan, and I was prepared to proceed thither in the ensuing
cold season.
In conclusion, I may remark that throughout the discussion on Seistan the
Minister seemed more or less pre-occupied. He appeared greatly embarrassed and
disappointed at what had passed on the Perso-Mekran question ; assured us that
he had been personally instrumental in obtainang the Shah’s abandonment of the
Mund and Toomp Districts, and expressed himself personally pledged to obtain the
cession of the Kohuk District. He reverted to the subject before we separated and
after givmig his reply in respect of the Seistan arbitration.
R° u g h notes on the march of the Seistan and MeJcran Mission from 'Bashire to Teheran,
May to \§th July 1871.
After completing as far as was expedient the enquiries to be made prepara,
toiy to discussion and settlement at Teheran of the Perso-Mekran boundary
accompanied by Captain tvan Smith, Captain Beresford Lovett, K. E., anc
Quarter Master Sergeant D. Bower, r. e., 1 embarked at Gwadur on the 21sl
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