File 1377/1905 Pt 2 'Perso-Baluch Frontier: Border Meetings' [‎78r] (151/224)

as the raost convenient place of meeting. The Persian Government again
deputed the Ittila-ud-Dowlah to represent their Foreign Office at the meeting.
It will be noted that there are two classes of claims against the Kerman
Government, viz.: ( 1 ) International claims between Persia and India, and ( 2 )
private claims against Persians, made by British subjects residing at Gwettur
Charbar and other places on or near the Coast of Persian Baluchistan The
trontier meeting to decide the first class of case, having been arranged for Charbar
and the Persian officials necessary having been ordered to proceed to that place’
which is a centre of British Indian trade in Persian Baluchistan and the most
convenient place for settling cases in the second category, it seemed obviouslv
advisable that the annual meeting between the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs
and the local officials should coincide with the frontier meeting. °
4. It was under these circumstances that Mr. Pinsent was present at the
meeting and represented the officer in Political charge of the MeIcran Coast.
Strictly speaking, he need only have attended the discussion of cases of the
second class mentioned above.
5. I trust that the Government of India will be pleased to give me instruc
tions in due course, as to whether, in the event of a future meeting takino* place
at Charbar or elsewhere on the Coast of Persian Baluchistan, I am to allow the
claims of British subjects residing in that province to be represented at the
meeting, or whether I should arrange a separate one if possible. I think there
would be actually some difficulty in making the latter arrangement. As it
was, the Ittila-ud-Dowlah was very much averse to going to such an uncivilised
place as Charbar, and remained for a long time at Bushire, subject to friendly
pressure from me, before making up his mind, and would probably have been
late again this year, if he had not been thus kept up to the mark. To rouse the
local authorities at Bampur into attending two separate meetings would, I fear,
require a more lively application of the rowels than we can practically apply,’
and should the Government of India for this reason decide that it would be
expedient, whenever possible, to have one meeting instead of two, I think it
would be advisable that the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, or his Agent,
should be present at the settlement of the claims of British subjects residing
within his jurisdiction, and that his report on the result of the meeting should
be submitted through the Eesident, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , as heretofore. He would be
asked to cut down his summary to the utmost, and I would further edit any
such report, so that repetitions of signatures, names of parties present, etc.,
might not cause unnecessary printing. I would mention that in cases in the
second category, the 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. , Kalat, would have no authority, as they
are claims by British Indian subjects residing in Persia, against Persian
subjects.
6 . With reference to the remark in paragraph 2 of your letter No. 33^6
that the cases under settlement were not connected with the limits of the
telegraph stations under the Director’s charge, I would respectfully invite a
reference to the enclosure sent with my letter No. 409, dated 20th August 1905,
viz., letter No. 227, dated 7th May, from the Nazim of Mekran to the Director,
from which it will be seen that claims of British Indian subjects residing in
Persian Baluchistan amounting to some thousands of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , were settled
during the meeting; and I would ask Government to note that the British
Indian traders Ootoomul, Bhojamull, Bochimull, Shammumull, Assumull, and
others whose names constantly recur among the lists of claimants, are resident
within the limits of the Political charge of the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Section.
All such claims have always been preferred through the Director, Persian
Gulf Telegraphs, and this office, to the Persian Government, and until such
time as the administrative machinery is altered in this respect, it seems
necessary that the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, or some representative of
his who is familiar with the cases, should be present at any meeting at which
they are discussed.
7. In regard to the concluding portion of your letter No. 3386-F., from
which I note that on certain points the views held by Mr. Campbell and myself
differ from those held by Major Showers, and that the latter commend themselves
to the Government of India; I would ask that if they are of any importance
to me for future guidance, Major Showers’ views may be communicated to me.