File 1377/1905 Pt 2 'Perso-Baluch Frontier: Border Meetings' [‎55r] (105/224)

(y) There have been complaints for some time past by the Jewni fisher
man against the Gwefter officials, who subject the fishermen to
yaiious exactions, and put difficulties in the way of their trade
in the Gwetfer Bay. On the Nazim’s reference to him the
Karguzar wrote to say he had directed the Gwetter officials to
leave the fishermen alone.
8 . To facilitate the settlement of cases, certain arrangements were come
to between the Nazim and the Persian officials present at the meeting. These*
are as follows:—
(«) That all persons having claims against the people of Persian Baluchis
tan and Persian Mekran, should present themselves before the
Deputy Governor of Bampur within two months of receipt of a
summons from him to so appear. The latter will then decide
the case in the presence of the parties and of representa
tives of the Nazim, the Karguzar of Kirman and the Direc
tor, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs. Cases not settled in this way
will be taken up at the next meeting at Pishin.
The Nazim presumably had good reasons for acceding to this proposal.
The anangement however is one that is likely to cause British claimants
considerable inconvenience and, unless for the strongest reasons, the Nazim
(and the Assistant Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. if present) will be instructed not to again
accept a similar proposal. The Persian officials who are always informed in
good time of the claims to be brought forward at each approaching meeting,
should arrange to bring the defendants with them, so that cases could'be disposed
of before the meetings terminate.
{wj If a party to a case should die leaving no heir the case shall be
dismissed. Also if a defendant in a suit should leave one country
and pass into the other, the Governor of the former should inform
that of the latter country of the fact. It will then be the duty
of that Governor in whose territory the said defendant is for the
time being, either to expel him from such territory, or to secure his
attendance before the next forthcoming meetins:
(Hi) That with a view to preventing the multiplication of claims
between the people of the two countries, British subjects will be
prohibited from ( 1 ) lending money to Persian subjects, ( 2 ) from
selling them anything except for cash, or in exchange for some
thing else or until some suitable article has been given in pledge,
except with the permission of the Karguzar or other frontier
official. No claim founded on a transaction which took place in
contravention of this rule will be recognized. This seems a
somewhat one-sided rule. There are many relations and transac
tions between the border peoples of the two countries, and injustice
is likely to be done to British subjects in barring their suits in a
class of case that must very frequently arise. To say the least of
it the arrangement should be reciprocal. The Assistant Political
Agent and the Nazim will be instructed to reopen and further
discuss the question at the next meeting and for the present to
consider the introduction of the rule as quite tentative.
9. On the whole the meeting may be said to have been satisfactory in its
results. New claims by British subjects have been admitted, and old ones have
been affirmed, and promises for the early payment of instalments made by
responsible officials. The Persian Government are evidently taking the
meeting seriously, and this being so, we have the best possible guarantee fort he
maintenance of the peace of the border.
30. It has been arranged that the next meeting will take place at Pishin
in January next.