File 1377/1905 Pt 1 'Perso-Baluch Frontier: Frontier Demarcation' [‎132v] (36/188)

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Lordship’s orders to me, to make the best terms I could on the lines of the Viceroy’s
proposals, to close with the Persian offers without further delay, especially as I had
succeeded in obtaining a much larger export than was originally agreed to. I trust
that, under these circumstances, my action will bo approved of by your Lordship.
The Persian Government have asked me to supply them with a map illustrating
the Mirjawar frontier as at present settled, and showing Mirjawar, Padaha, and the
watering-places mentioned in the Agreement. I have telegraphed for one to Colonel
MacMahon.
The Mushir-ed-Dowleh also inquired whether a formal exchange of ratifications
of the Agreement between the Shah and King-Emperor was in my opinion necessary.
I have replied that as it was merely supplementary to the Holdich Agreement, I
thought that this formality would probably not be essential, but that I would refer
the point to yoUr Lordship. I should be grateful for your instructions on the
subject.
1 have been desirous of incorporating in some form or other as part of a general
settlement of outstanding questions on the Seistan and Baluchistan frontiers, a
provision cancelling the prohibition of the acquisition of “ Kholasajat ” or State land
in Seistan by British subjects, which was discussed in Mr. Grant Duff’s despatch to
be Government of India on the 15th October last, and respecting which the Govern
ment of India had desired me to make representations. I had accordingly raised the
question in the note to the Persian Government of the 8 th ultimo, of which I had the
honour to forward a copy in my despatch to your Lordship of the 18th ultimo. The
Mushir-ed-Dowleh, however, asked me not to press the point at the present juncture.
He said that a similar prohibition had been enforced in the Province of Astrabad, and
that the Persian Government were now trying, in connection with the presence of
our Boundary Commission in Seistan, to induce the Russian Government to withdraw
the Russian Commission and escort from Gumbad-i-Kaboos, and to substitute for the
peiraanent residence there of a Russian Commissioner a system of meetings at stated
intervals between the Russian and Persian frontier authorities, similar to those which
ha\e been instituted during the last few years for the settlement of border questions
between the Nazim of British Mekran and the Governor of Persian Baluchistan. He
adoed, somewhat to my surprise, that the Russian Minister has shown a disposition to
tall m witu the proposal, and that the Persian Government hoped to arrange for buying
back the buildings erected by the Russians at Gumbad-i-Kaboos, and was in the
meantime trying to stop .any fresh acquisition of land or sites by the Russians in
that district. 1 rather doubt any early agreement being arrived at on this subject,
especiaby now that Colonel MacMahon is leaving Seistan, but I think it quite likely
that the hints which 1 have sometimes dropped to the effect that we might reasonably
ask lor a Frontier Commission in Persian Baluchistan similar to the one at Gumbad-i-
Kaboos have been used by the Persians as a lever for obtaining the withdrawal of the
latter. I have, therefore, said that I would await the result of these negotiations before
raising the question of our right under our Treaties to claim permission for our subjects
m fceistan to acquire State lands for building sites or shops. ~
I have, &c.
(Signed) ARTHUR H. HARDINGE.
have 0 “ i , tted in tb , e above despatch to call attention to the fact that the
Wuwar TVf’T* 1av ? r s ' lected , t0 fix the amolmt of ghee to be supplied from
Th?mnt! r d L i l<hS ’ aiK have merely specified 50 kharwars a-year from Seistan.
as thero ! T t° r' mr ° rta n t t0 occasion * ^ther delay in signing the Agreement
as there is not I believe, usually any restriction on the export of ghee, and this article
‘ 0 " ri| enturned, because Colonel MacMahon had specified a total of 80 khar-
rcesdrvTn 1 ' 118 0 , r r 0U f ,P°? S al0I ’ g tlle Baluchistan frontier. If it should be
he OTsM7nrA r 0 V i d n for a ' ,' mte SU PI )ly of ghee from ‘he Mirjawar district, this can
ue easily arranged by an exchange ol notes.
A. H. H.
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