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File 1880/1904 Pt 1 'Perso-Afghan Frontier: - Seistan Arbitration.' [‎62r] (128/520)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (254 folios). It was created in 26 Feb 1903-31 Dec 1910. 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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27
Enclosure No. 13.
Telegram, No. 836, dated the 15th (despatched from Robat on 17th) November 1904».
From—COLONEL A. H. McMahon, C.S I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan
Arbitration Commission, Seistan,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta.
Your telegram 4374 E. Amir would be wise to accept paragraph 3 of my
draft award A°as Afghans some day may badly want to take advantage of it.
Afghan canal referred to in paragraph 23 of my memorandum was through
Persian territory. Also contingency stated in paragraph 64, section 3, ot same
memorandum. I regiet my argument regarding water award in telegram of
10th November has been misunderstood. My meaning is that, it tne point at
which division of water is to be calculated is fixed at Bund-i-Kohak, then
Persia will claim at least half of the river from that point downwards, because
it forms her boundary, and the theoretical boundary line runs along midstream;
but she would not be satisfied with only this arrangement, because it gives no
guarantee that the water above that point will not be so diverted as to render
half the river at that point insufficient for her requisite supply. By half the
river I here mean of course that the volume of Bud-i-Seistan forms part of that
half and is not in addition thereto. The actual boundary line leaves mouth of
Rud-i-Seistan in Persia, and the prolongation of the straight line of boundary
hits Bund-i-Kohak about half-way across Helmand. One of my reasons for
basin 0, division of water on volume at point higher up river is that ratio of
that volume to volume at Bund-i-Kohak is unknown to both parties, and Persia,
on the one hand, would not realise how much less her awarded portion is than
what she has hitherto had the opportunity of using, and would refrain from
noisv protest by the guarantee which my definition gives of the continuance of
a reouisite supply. On the other hand, Afghanistan would not realise how
much more water than Persia is entitled to goes into Persian territory, and
would refrain from measures she would otherwise take needlessly to reduce the
jimmlv The present status quo would continue longer. If we want to avoid
reference to river above Kohak and still safeguard requisite supply of
water for Persians, we must add the word “ now ” before the words “ enter into
Seistan ” in clause 2 of award. We are, however, then faced by the difficulty,
° 1ater .tao'e, of replying to direct Persian or fghan query as to where river
k considered to enter Seistan. I have no further detailed arguments to offer
beyond those already in your possession. Please telegraph if further information
on any point is required.
Addressed to Foreign with Viceroy; repeated to Foreign, Calcutta.
Enclosure No. 14.
Telegram, No. 838, dated tbe 18th (despatched from Robat on 20th) November 1904.
°From— Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistaa
Arbitration Commission, Seistan,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta.
Demarcation of straight line from Koh-i-Halik Siah to Kohak completed
to-day.
Enclosure No. 15.
Telegram, dated the 20th November 1904.
From—His Excellency the Viceroy, Viceroy's Camp,
T 0 His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London.
Telegram from Colonel McMahon states that the demarcation of the
straight lino from Koh-i-Malik Siah to Kohak was completed on the 18th
November.

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Content

The volume contains printed selections from official papers of the Foreign Department of the Government of India (telegrams, official letters, and extracts from official diaries), and maps, concerning the settlement of the disputed frontier between Afghanistan and Persia in Seistan (also spelled Sistan in the volume) [Sīstān] during the period 1901-10. The papers are mainly in the form of dispatches from the Government of India, Foreign Department, addressed to the Secretary of State for India. Each despatch includes a list of documents ('enclosures') cited. The later papers are accompanied by minute sheets of the Secret Department, Government of India.

The papers cover: the work of the Arbitration Mission under Colonel (Arthur) Henry McMahon (British Commissioner, Seistan Arbitration Commission), 1903-05, including events up to the departure of the Arbitration Mission, proceedings of the Mission, demarcation of the boundary from Koh-i-Malik Siah to Siah Koh, the Seistan water dispute, and McMahon's report (folios 22-30) on the final settlement and demarcation of the boundary between Persia and Afghanistan, followed by a complete list (folios 31-34) of the boundary pillars on the Perso-Afghan boundary; and reports on the distribution of water in Helmand, 1909-10.

The main correspondents are: McMahon; His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran; the Secretary of State for India; His Britannic Majesty's Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran; His Britannic Majesty's Consul for Seistan and Kain [Kūh-e Kā’īn]; and the Amir of Afghanistan.

Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, year the subject file was opened, subject heading, and list of correspondence references contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

The map in the back of the volume, on folio 254, relates to the work of the Sistan Arbitration Commission of 1872 under General Sir Frederick John Goldsmid. The last dated addition to the volume is a note on folio 4 stating that a copy of a paper had been sent to the Foreign Office on 12 January 1911.

Extent and format
1 volume (254 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 1880 (Perso-Afghan Frontier) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/52-53. The volumes are divided into two parts with each part comprising one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 256; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

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English in Latin script
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File 1880/1904 Pt 1 'Perso-Afghan Frontier: - Seistan Arbitration.' [‎62r] (128/520), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/52, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040047749.0x000081> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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