'Seistan arbitration case' [‎93v] (2/12)

It is important to bear in mind the limits of the Persian Empire under Nadir
Shah from 1732 to 1747; for Persia’s claims to Seistan, so far as ancient rights
are concerned, are based very much upon that period, whilst Affghanistan argues
that on this basis she can no more claim Seistan than Cabul, Bokhara, or the
Punjaub.
1747. On the assassination of Nadir Shah at Meshed in 1747, a short period of anarchy
ensued, followed by the establishment of the Affghan Empire by Ahmed Shah, an
Affghan adventurer in Nadir Shah’s army.
1752. Ahmed Shah was crowned at Candahar as the “ chosen of God.”
His first act was to wrest Cabul from the Persians, to conquer Seistan and
Herat, to make Khorassan feudatory, and acquire the Punjaub.
The limits of his empire from 1747 to 1773 were as follows:—
N. The Oxus.
S. Sea of Oman.
E. Sutlej and Indus rivers.
W. Khorassan and Kerman.
1773—98. After Ahmed Shah’s death in 1773, the Affghan Empire began rapidly to decay.
Balkh asserted her independence; Scinde and Beloochistan withdrew from their
allegiance; the Sikhs, under the influence of Runjeet Sing, threw off their yoke ;
and Persia began to assert her claims to Herat and its neighbouring provinces.
As regards Seistan itself a long blank ensued in her history, for she had not
played any prominent part in the dissensions of the period and became practically
independent from being ignored by both Persia and Affghanistan.
1826. Although Dost Mahomed on his accession to the Affghan throne in 1826 was
most anxious to bring Seistan more directly under his rule, he was too fully
employed elsewhere in re-conquering Balkh and Badakshan and extending the
boundaries of his kingdom once more to the Oxus, to be able to move against
the province.
1834. The comparative rest which Persia was at this period enjoying after a recent and
disastrous war with Russia, encouraged the Shah to fill his imagination with the
old dreams of extending the Persian Empire to its ancient limits.
Much stress was laid on the brief empire of Nadir Shah, and Herat was made for
the moment the chief object of intrigue.
The British Government resisted the Shah’s claims to Herat as strenuously as
he made them. Our Minister at Teheran, whose policy was fully supported by
the Home Government, wrote in 1834,—
It is unsatisfactory to know that the Shah has very extended schemes of
“ conquest in the direction of Affghanistan, and, in common with all his subjects,
“ considers that his right of conquest over Herat and Candahar is as complete
“ now as in the days of the Suffaveean dynasty. Wishing rather to ascertain the
“ exact pretensions of the Persian Ministers than to discuss the question of right,
“ I inquired how far they considered the dominion of Persia to extend. Their
“ reply was, to Ghiznee. On former occasions, the Hajee had mentioned the
“ occupation of Herat as a proximate enterprise, and that of Candahar as one not
“ far distant.”
Again he wrote,—
“ I feel quite assured that the British Government cannot permit the extension
“ of the Persian Monarchy in the direction of Affghanistan with a due regard to
“ the tranquillity of India; that extension will at once bring Russian influence to
“ the threshold of our Empire.”
1838. Four years afterwards, Sir John McNeill, who had succeeded Mr. Ellis as our
Minister at Teheran, wrote,—
Sir John McNeill to Viscount Palmer- « At Kandahar our position is still very
ston, llth pn « precarious, and I enclose a draft treaty
“ between the Shah and the Chief of Candahar, Kohendil Khan, which has for its
“ object to unite Herat and Candahar under a Chief who shall be nominally
“ subject to Persia, but actually under the protection of Russia.”
The treaty here alluded to and the open aid of Russia in the Persian Expe
dition against Herat at this time were made subjects of public complaint by Lord
Palmerston against the Russian Government, and were acknowledged although
weakly excused by Count Nesselrode.
1851—57. After repeated failures before Herat, Persia began to turn her attention
more to Seistan, and loud were her claims to that province. Intrigue was made
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