'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎22v] (49/386)

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stipulation that there should be no demarcation of the boundary. It was
not till September that the welcome intelligence arrived that the Amir
had at last yielded to the Viceroy’s representations and had consented to the
erection of ‘permanent boundary pillars. Ihe work of demaication nas at
once taken in hand, and was completed by the 29th Decembei 1904.
But the Mission’s task was still far from ended. Tim adjustment of
irrigation rights was an even more delicate operation than the detei mination of
the boundary. The full investigations which had been m ade during the long
stay in Seistan had enabled Colonel McMahon to mature his views on this
intricate question; and his proposed decision was already belore the Govern-
ment of India. On the 30th December, instructions arrived trom Calcutta;
and Colonel McMahon called upon the Persian and Afghan Commissioners
to submit the statements of their cases. Another season of cultiva
tion was at hand; a further series of careful observations was recorded
as a check upon the terms of the award which had already been prepared;
and it was not till the 10th April 190o
The Water Award. t hat the arbitral decision regarding water
rights was finally delivered to the representatives of either country. The
award declared the Persians to be entitled to one-third of the total volume of the
Helmand at the point where it passes Bandar-i-Kamal Khan on the coniines
of Afghan Seistan, and it was enjoined that any irrigation works constructed
by the Afghans in the tract below Bandar-i-Kamal Khan must allow of at
least one-third of the volume of the whole river at that point being available for
Persian use at Band-i-Kuhak. Subject to this proviso, either party was accorded
complete liberty of constructing new works of irrigation or of repairing old dams
or channels. The Persians were adjudged to have the right, in case of futuie -
need, to alter the site of their existing dam at Kohak, and to construct there
from'a new channel through Afghan territory. Similar rights were reserved to
the Afghans in respect of their dam at Shahgul. To ensure compliance with the
terms of the award and the ready settlement of future diTerences, it was
provided that an irrigation expert should be permanently attached to the
British Consulate in Seistan, and should enjoy free right of access to all points
on the Helmand Itiver. Finally, the water rights conferred upon the
Persian Government were declared to be inalienable to any other Power, save
with the consent of the Afghan Government. Various objections were raised.
But it w r as evident that either side was conscious that substantial justice had
been done. The arbitral functions of the Mission in Seistan were concluded;
and on the 15th May 1905 the Mission started on their return journey to
India. An intercourse of over two years had promoted a strong nnd cordial
attachment, and the departure of the Mission was marked by genuine expres
sions of regret on the part of Persian and Afghan Commissioner alike.
But the assent of the Persian and Afghan Governments had still to be
secured. At Tehran dissatisfaction was expressed that the Persian share of
water was less than that awarded to the Afghan side. The Amir dissented
from the proposal to appoint an irrigation expert to investigate and settle future
differences. Prior to the inception of the Mission, the Shah had consented to
accept as final the decision of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and the
Government of India had more than once requested the Amir to signify his
willingness to bide by the verdict of the same authority. But on each occasion
the reply from Kabul had been silent on the point. In November 1905 attempts
were still in progress to remove the last remaining obstacles to the complete
fulfilment of the Mission’s aims. The success of these still remains doubtful.
The Shah also still declines to accept the award, and the last intelligence is
that the local Persian officers have without notice to the Consul burnt the
Mission huts which had been left standing at Kohak, incase they might be
required by the proposed irrigation officer. Active negotiations are in
progress to secure redress for this overt insult.
It had been intended that, after completing his task in Seistan, Colonel
McMahon should proceed to delimit the still undemarcated portion of the
Perso-Baluch border. The boundary between Persia and Baluchistan laid
_ , , „ , down bv the British and Persian Com-
Perso-Baluch Boundary. . . w .... ,
missieners in 1890 was surveyed and
demarcated only as far north as pillar No. 11 lying to the south-west of the