'Persia, Herat, and Seistan' [‎82v] (8/28)

8
This letter was replied to on the 8th idem * by
a letter from Mr. Stanhope, in which it was
stated:—
“ Sir Julian Pauncefote’s letter f of the 1st
instant not having invited any expression of
opinion from Lord Cranbrook, His Lordship, in
answer, deemed it only necessary to observe that
the tone of the Persian Minister’s communication
seemed open to comment, and that the measure
announced in it would be a direct breach of the
Treaty of Paris.
“ A telegram embodying the purport of Malcom
Khan’s Note, was at the same time addressed to
the Viceroy of India, from whom the enclosed
replyj has been received.
<£ Lord Cranbrook concurs generally in Lord
Lytton’s view, and is of opinion that such an
answer should be sent to Malcom Khan as will
reserve complete freedom of action to Her Majesty’s
Government, and will guard them from being
supposed to acquiesce in the intended Persian
occupation of Afghan territory, or in the assumption
which is plainly expressed in the Persian Minister’s
Note, that the Shah’s acceptance of General
GoMsmid’s arbitral decision is not binding on His
Majesty under present circumstances, and that some
rectification of the Seistan frontier of Afghanistan
in favour of Persia must in any case be made.
Lord Cranbrook has in mind the remarks on
the latter point contained in your letter of the I4jth
January last, but he is of opinion that the decision
of Her Majesty s Government in regard to it must,
to a great extent, be dependent on the course of
events in Afghanistan, and, further, that should
any concession ultimately be made to Persia it
must be conditional on the conclusion of a satis-
iactory understanding with the Shah’s Government
in regard to its future relations with that of Great
-Britain.
A 1 '® follo "' i! i? are the words of the Viceroy’s
reply§ to the Secretary of State’s telegram, em
bodying the purport of the Persian Minister’s
INote, and referred to m the foregoing letter
• c' 1 Pc !' sia occu pies Seistan with our permission
m face of our accepted award, this will inevitably
toTfff 0I : U 'P rofess J ons of good faith and friendship
offered tTvoV lf ld -i 1 ? e S 0tlatl0ns on basi s already
tercd to Yakub will become extremely difficult
for Caoul will hardly yield territory on east and
west simultaneously, or surrender cha'rge of foreign
relations, if we allow Persian occupation.
therefore, unless we are able, in event of
Persian invasion, to assure Yakub that, if he accepts
our basis he shall not lose Seistan, negotiations will
bernpermed and hostilities may be pSon^d “
it ho finally refuses, we are free. If Persians
c"m X nd fer eastwards^ and
reatt, much confusion m Southern Afghanistan.”
The following reply was, with Lord Cranbrook’s
* Mr. Stanhope to Foreign Office, 8th
April 1879.
f Enclosing Malcom Khan’s Note of the
31st March.
f Dated 5th April 1879 (see below).
1879 lel6Sram ^ Viceroy ’ dated 5th April
From Foreign Office, 14th April 1879.