'Boundary between Persia and North-West Baluchistan' [‎30r] (15/18)

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may be perfectly certain that this is thoroughly
well recognized by every man in Mekran and the
adjoining districts, and I make no doubt that the
whole country is on the tip-toe of expectation, for
the immediate action of the Government will show
the chiefs whether or not their belief that they have
been altogether abandoned is well or ill founded.
If a Commission were appointed during the next
cold season to delimitate the Perso-Baluch boundary,
I am convinced that it would have the effect of
reassuring those who wish us well. It would show
them that while we do not consider it advisable to
continue the troops in Mekran, we have no intention
of permitting Persia to swallow up the country,
that we take an interest in its affairs and will not
allow disturbances to take place. On the other
hand, if we delay, they will lose, while those who
see their advantage in our absence will gain, con
fidence; the border chiefs may be driven from
their homes or forced to make terms with Persia,
and every day that passes will increase the
difficulties of a settlement which must some day
be effected.
Another reason for the immediate settlement of
the boundary is the activity of Russia. It was
only on the 22nd of last June that His Excellency
the Commander-in-Chief in India told me that the
* Sir George White had for the moment Russians had established a new post “ somewhere”*
forgotten the exact name of the place. in my direction. This, of course, is well known to
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. , and I only mention it to draw
attention to the fact that the post was established
immediately after the evacuation of Mekran by
British troops. The movements of Russia in
Khorassan and Sistan are well known, and though
the reports which I heard in Mekran during 1891,
1892, and 1893 were, without doubt, exaggerated,
equally without doubt they were based on truth.
If, then, we make no counter-move the people will
be confirmed in their belief that we have lost
interest in them and abandoned the field to Russia,
and we shall alienate our friends while we forward
the interests of our enemies.
Thus far I have argued for a settlement which I
have frequently urged on the Governor General’s
Agent in Baluchistan. What his views may be I
do not know, as I have not been favoured with
them, and I imagine that Sir James Browne was so
anxious to obtain a settlement of Mekran affairs
that he paid little attention to the boundary ques
tion, and in the circumstances thought it advisable
not to press it upon the Eoreign Office in India.
While at Simla last June I myself urged the neces
sity of a delimitation of this boundary upon the
Deputy Eoreign Secretary, but he replied that
ee it raised such thorny questions about Kohuk
“ that it was thought advisable to let it alone.”
I venture, however, most respectfully to point out
that the difficulties connected with the Kohuk
question will not lessen as time goes on; rather
they will increase, and I think that the fact of the
Shah’s having ratified Sir E. Goldsmid’s boundary
S. 42. E