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File 1377/1905 Pt 1 'Perso-Baluch Frontier: Frontier Demarcation' [‎147r] (65/188)

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The record is made up of 1 item (93 folios). It was created in Nov 1904-Oct 1921. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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local conditions to say whether the places marked in Colonel McMahon’s map
as Bug Thana, Bedi Spring, and Piran Ziarat, and shown to be on the Persian
side of the blue line are, de facto^ held or claimed by us. If they are, how
ever, their occupation by us will probably be left unchallenged by the Persians
unless the whole question is re-opened. As regards Robat, it could perhaps be
arranged locally, at some later date, when the talk about the revision and real
meaning of the Holdich agreement has subsided, to erect a boundary pillar at
some point on the road from Hurmak not too close to our Thana, say, a mile or
half a mile from it, in order to indicate for the benefit of travellers, and for the
settlement of any uncertainties as to jurisdiction, the exact point on the trade
route at which the two territories meet. This arrangement would be made as a
matter of mutual convenience, and without reference to a line only verifiable
with difficulty, running from the Kacha Koh to Koh-i-Malik Siah.
I might, however, state to the Persian Government that, in return for a
formal abandonment of our claim to Mirjawa, i. e., the point occupied by the
Custom House, and for the withdrawal of Colonel MeMahon without the
re-opening of any further boundary disputes, we should ask for the definite
settlement of certain questions in Seistan, such as that of the export of grain,
and also for the permanent right to draw supplies and water from Mirjawa for
our neighbouring outpost at Padaha. I could probably effect an agreement on
these lines, including perhaps a right of free supply from Duzdab without the
intervention of the Yamin-i-Nizam.
Colonel Douglas, with whom I have discussed the subject, agrees with
Colonel McMahon in holding that the whole Mirjawa-Robat boundary is
mainly important in subordinate relation to Seistan, and that the acquisition of
the red line would be valuable to us only in the event of the establishment, by
Russia, of paramount influence in Seistan and Persian Baluchistan.
Since I sent my telegram to Colonel McMahon, I have received a repetition
of the one from the Government of India to Mr. Secretary Brodrick of the 3rd
instant, in which it is suggested that a satisfactory settlement of the Mirjawa
boundary might be effected as part of an arrangement which could comprise a
withdrawal of our support of the Hashmat-ul-Mulk. As to this, I think that the
two questions might be treated in connection with one another, but I fear that
any formal cession of territory which the Persian Government could be per
suaded, whether by its own officers or by the Russians, was demonstrably its own,
would be very difficult to obtain. An exchange might be possible, but a recti
fication, however trifling, to the detriment, or apparent detriment, of Persia,
would have practically no chance of success. Unless, therefore, we can make
sure that the re-opening of the question will give us a more satisfactory line than
the Holdich one, we had better adhere to the latter, inaccurate geographically as
it is, rather than run the risk that further enquiry will involve the substitution
of the blue line of Colonel McMahon’s latest map.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
A. H. Hardinge.
The Secretary to the Government of India
in the Poreign Department.

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Part 1 contains correspondence relating to the demarcation of the boundary in Baluchistan, between Persia, British India, and Afghanistan. The correspondence is between the Foreign Department of the Government of India, the Viceroy of India, the Foreign Office, and the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. . Included as enclosures are letters, telegrams, and memoranda from the following:

  • Colonel Arthur Henry McMahon, British Commissioner, Seistan [Sīstān] Arbitration Commission;
  • Evelyn Grant Duff, British Chargé d'Affaires, Tehran;
  • Arthur Henry Hardinge, British Minister, Tehran;
  • Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan.

Several matters are covered by the papers, including:

  • the definition of the border in the Seistan region and around Mirjawar [Mīrjāveh];
  • the allocation of water resources;
  • the export of grain from Persia to British frontier posts;
  • customs duties on exports into British territory.

Folio 133 is a copy of the agreement concerning the border at Mirjawar and the export of grain, signed by Arthur Hardinge and the Persian Prime Minister (Mushir-ed-Dowleh) on 13 May 1905.

Several maps are included, as follows:

  • map of Mirjawa and neighbourhood (folio 121);
  • sketch map of Mirjawar (folio 122);
  • three maps of the North-Western Trans-Frontier (including Seistan province) in various scales (folios 202, 203, and 204).
Extent and format
1 item (93 folios)
Written in
English in Latin script
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File 1377/1905 Pt 1 'Perso-Baluch Frontier: Frontier Demarcation' [‎147r] (65/188), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/79/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100027191634.0x000063> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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