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'Seistan arbitration case' [‎96v] (8/12)

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The record is made up of 6 folios. It was created in 19 Nov 1872. 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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8
make the Affghan Ruler our friend, “provided the said Ruler had power to
“ govern his own people and consolidate his own dominions.”
From Meshed, which General Goldsmid left on the 3rd of May, the Mission
proceeded to Teheran where they arrived on
Q^ G M er 1 a G w dsm ;' J «^ S T ecret , 8 S 9 ofState ’ the 4th of June > after accomplishing a total
journey from Bunder Abbass of 1,860 miles.
A delay of more than a month was here caused by the non-receipt of the
statement of the Persian claims. General Goldsmid naively describes the little
attentions he received during this interval, and the continued efforts of the
Persian Ministers to get him to commit himself to an acknowledgment of their
claims before delivering his arbitral opinion.
Fortunately General Goldsmid was the right man to deal with intrigue, and
wisely avoided committing himself or uttering an unguarded word.
^ ^ ., * c , - ^ . The Persian statement was at length sub-
31® OcJlr 0 872 y ’ mitted > on the 10th of Ju] y 18 72, fouf months
after that of the Affghan Commissioner.
Both statements may be summarized as follows :—
Persian Statement.
That according to the principles of every civilized State, ancient and newly
acquired rights such as Persia holds in Seistan, dispense with the necessity of
adducing proof.
That Article 6, 7, and 8 of the Treaty of 1857 prove that Seistan belongs to
Persia.
That no Affghan has at any time been named Governor of Seistan.
That there is no similarity between the Affghans and Seistanees.
That Lord Russell’s letter of 1863 obviates any discussion as to the present
possessions of Persia in Seistan, and excuses the Persian Government from
entering into such discussion.
That Seistan has, ab antiqud, belonged to Persia; that she now has firm
possession of it, and that in addition to Persia’s natural rights, Seistan belongs to
her by conquest in accordance with the decision of the British Government, from
Tagut, in Jo wain to Khash Pud above Khash, thence to Kaleh-i-Bist and the
desert called Jay a to Jalk, in Beloochistan.
Affghan Statement.
That it is as clear as daylight that Seistan belongs to Affghanistan.
1 hat it belonged to the empire of Ahmed Shah and his successors and remained
ever since under Herat and Candahar.
1 hat Seistanees have often assisted the Affghan Government as can be seen
from their graves in Affghan Turkistan.
That there are numerous instances of Affghan Rulers in Seistan especially
under Yar Mahomed of Herat and others.
That the newly acquired sovereignty of Persia in Seistan is only attributable
to the internal dissensions of Affghanistan, and in no way founded on right
or might.
That, as regards Seistanees not speaking the Affghan language, the argument
no more holds good than in the case of the Badakshanees, Uzbegs, Hazarah
Tribes, and others subject to Affghanistan.
General Goldsmid to Political Secretary,
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. , 21st August 1872.
Ditto to Secretary of State, 31st Octo
ber 1872.
Ditto to Foreign Secretry, Calcutta,
No. 46, 21st August 1872.
General Goldsmid brought the Commissioners together with varied success
on three different occasions, on the last of
which, 19th August 1872, he delivered his
arbitral opinion which will be described in the
next section.
The Mission left Teheran a few days after-
^ , wards and arrived in England on the 12th
September 1872.
It is impossible in a summary of this kind to do justice to the interesting
descriptions contained in General Goldsmid s despatches in regard to his journey.
1 hey will form a valuable addition to future histories and gazetteers.
His final Despatch No. 21 of the 31st October 1872, contains a concise
narrative of his journey and will repay perusal.

i

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Content

This document was written by Sir Owen Tudor Burne on 19 November 1872, and is divided into the following sections:

Section 1 - Brief abstract of Persia and Afghanistan History as connected with Seistan [Sīstān], including our policy in reference to the district

Section 2 - Geographical and Political Value of Seistan

Section 3 - Progress of Arbitration in 1871-72, including a short account of Sir F Goldsmid's journey

Section 4 - Abstract of General Goldsmid's Arbitral Opinion

The document concludes with 'General Remarks' from O T Burne about the situation.

Extent and format
6 folios
Written in
English in Latin script
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'Seistan arbitration case' [‎96v] (8/12), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/C66, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030277668.0x000009> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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