'Seistan' [‎275r] (549/782)

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(Received informally from the Tehran Legation on the dth April 1904.)
Narrative of Events in Persia in 1903.
At the beginning of the year the Executive Government of Persia was
still in the hands of Ali Asghar Khan, Atabeg-i-Azam, although a strong
party at Court, headed by the Hakim-ul-Mulk, was gradually undermining
his power and weakening his influence over the Shah. During the month of
January negotiations were carried on between His Majesty’s Minister and the
Persian Government with a view to the drawing up of a Commercial Agree
ment similar in character to that signed in October 1901 between Persia and
sir a. Hardings telegram No. 16-Commerdai of Prussia. This agreement was signed bv
February 9th. 1903 . Sir A. Hardinge on February 9th, and
the new tariff came into effect on the 14th of the same month. The ratifica
tions were exchanged on May 27th, 1903. During the latter part of 1902 the
Persian Government had intimated their willingness to depute an official to meet
a representative of His Majesty’s Government to demarcate the Perso-Beluch
frontier from the vicinity of Padaha to Koh-i-Malik-Siah. Colonel A. H.
McMahon, llevenue Commissioner in Beluchistan, was selected as British
representative and was also appointed arbitrator in the dispute which had
arisen as to the frontier between Seistan and Afghanistan. The Yamin Nizam
was appointed Persian Commissioner and Afghanistan was also represented.
During January and February efforts were made by the Bussian Minister at
lehran to force the Shah to sanction the presence of a Russian official on the
boundary commission. Under the pressure to bear by M. Vlassow, the Atabeg-
i-Azam proposed that the work of demarcation should be postponed or that
Russia should be represented. The Persian Government also raised difficul
ties owing to the exaggergated reports which had been spread of the size of
Colonel McMahon’s escort. The view of the matter taken by His Majesty’s
Government may be summed up in the words of the last portion of Lord
Lansdowne’s note to Count Benckendorff of February 21st.
“I cannot find in our archives any document which can be regarded as
giving the Russian Government a right of intervention in the matter of the
Arbitration now proceeding in Seistan as to the claims of the Persians and
Afghans to the use of the water of the Helmund. The British and Russian
Governments have, it is true, on more than one occasion agreed to respect the
integrity of Persia and there is. a Despatch from Lord Granville to Lord A.
Loftus of July 10th, 1873, in which he records a conversa ion with Count
Brunnow upon this point. It can, however, scarcely be contended that an
arbitration for the purposes of settling a local dispute as to water rights can be
regarded as affecting the general principle of the integrity of Persia, or that
such assurances as those given by Lord Granville in any way derogate from the
light of this country to act as arbitrator in accordance with the Treaty of
1857.’ J
Early in February a special Mission under Viscount Downe arrived at
Tehran for the purpose of investing the Shah with the Order of the Garter
The Mission was cordially received by the Persian Authorities and remained in
lehran about ten days. Shortly after Lord Downe’s departure the Hakim-ul-
Mulk and the Moayyed-ed-Dowleh received the G. C. M. G., the Mohandis-ul-
Mamalek the K. C. M. G., and Hussein Kuli Khan the C. B. The Atabe°--i-
Azam received the G. C. B. in brilliants, and several of the great officers°of
State handsome presents.
In February it became necessary for the Atabeg to find money and the
Persian Government attempted to obtain an advance from the Russian Bank
on the security of the royalties on the Caspian Fisheries. After considerable
delay the Russian Bank consented to advance the money required but imposed
conditions which the Persian Government were unwilling to accept. An an.
fc tlon was t]lon made to the Imperial Bank of Persia for an advance of from
£200,000 to £300,000. As the Bank was unable to lend so large a sum His
Majesty s Minister suggested that His Majesty’s Government should advance