'Seistan' [‎367r] (735/782)

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Tour Lordship for our ready acceptance of these views. But we think that the
entne cost of the proposed Consulate and of such subordinate native agencies
cannot tno reqUI w ?h0 n M b f by Her Ma j es ^’ s Government, since we
cannot too emphatically reiterate our opinion that India is only indirectly
interested in the Karun question. We shall be prepared to show a correspond-
ing liberality m quarters of more manifest importance to India. A Consul at
Mohammerah (or Ahwaz or Shushter) would of course correspond with the
British liesident at Bushire, as well as with Her Majesty’s Minister at Tehran.
76. We next turn to the eastern sphere, where Indian interests may be
described as supreme. Sir M. Durand throws out a hint that money mio-ht
perhaps be saved at Meshed, where the existing establishment imposes upon
Indian funds a charge of no less than £8,640 a year. We are inclined to
a-ree with him. Although in view of the proximity of Afghanistan, and of
tlie militant character of Russian pretensions in Khorasan, it is desirable to
maintain an adequate British representation at Meshed, we think that the
piesent scale is excessive, and that the results obtained are incommensurate with
the cost. YY e are considering whether by a reduction of the grade of the Political
Agent now stationed there, and by the removal of the Political Assistant to some
spot where his services would be of greater value, we might not be able to
eftect a considerable money saving, to be better applied elsewhere. We are
sceptical also as to the value received for the large secret service grant at
present made to the Meshed Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , and expended in the main in procuring
unreliable and almost worthless information through native and ill-informed
agents. On the other hand, we are prepared to compensate fer a less extrava
gant expenditure at Meshed by a more vigilant attention to Seistan, and bv
strenuously fostering the trade route connecting that district with British
Baluchistan. The political and strategical importance of Seistan appears to us
to justily and even to necessitate the former attitude. We are encouraged to
adopt the latter by the figures of trans-Nushki traffic, which have risen from a
total of 1-| lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees in 1896 to Rs. 5,90,000 in 1897 and (in spite of an adverse
season) to Its. 7,28,000 in 3 898, in which year the imports alone into Quetta
from Seistan reached the value of Rs. 2,50,880.
77. W e have some time past been examining the question of the permanent
appointment of a British officer to Seistan; and the deputation of Captain
Sykes from Kerman to Seistan in the present year, and the sanction of an
annual expenditure of £400 from Indian revenues upon a Seistan Consulate,
have already been mentioned. The reports of Captain Sykes are strongly
adverse to the permanent appointment of a British officer to Seistan; and
whilst we do not entirely concur with his reasoning, and regard his views as to
some extent coloured by other prepossessions, we nevertheless are of opinion that
such an appointment might for the present be postponed; the more so as it
appears likely that the nomination of a Russian Consul to Seistan, though
previously announced, is likely not to be persevered in, unless a British repre
sentative appears permanently upon the scene. Should a Russian officer be
finally appointed, we think that there will be no alternative but to send a
British officer also. In the meantime we are prepared to depute a reliable
native agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. from our Indian service to reside at Nasirabad, the capital of
Seistan, and to appoint a second to reside at Birjand, the capital of Kain, both
of these officials to be under the orders of the British Resident at Meshed, in
correspondence with the Persian arrangements under which Seistan and Kain
constitute a portion of the Governorship-General of Khorasan. We estimate
that the annual cost of these two posts will amount to £150—£200 per annum
more than the already sanctioned charge for the Seistan post; and this addition
we are prepared to meet. In making these proposals we have the satisfaction
of knowing that we are sure of the support both of Your Lordship and of the
Foreign Office; since, in a Revenue despatch, dated December 2nd, 1897, Your
Lordship, in sending to us a letter from the Foreign Office, expressing their
good hopes of the future of the Quetta-Meshed route, provided that Consular
protection and other facilities were furnished at points along the road, com
mended these remarks to the Government of India, and added: “I trust that
the suggestion of appointing Consular Agents at points along the trade route