'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.' [‎23v] (51/386)

,h„»U to totoM “ ClfBSfS
of seven hundred khaiwars ,, Persian Government to an annual exporta-
S-in and fifty kharwars of
g M for the use of the witho ut a constant struggle.
® u . t lf l!l ' ltl p h s " c ] ce f^ scistan the’ Russian Government had an Agent of
In their first i.^d ^ceived his diplomatic training in the Foreign
Officeat St Pltershur 1 He was an accomplished linguist, and well versed
Office at St. ietersbu^u. ^ arrived at Nasratabad m February 1900.
in oneDtal ways and manne . ^ the many difficulties encountered by
Russian opposition. M. Miller. jfritish Consul during the three
fpw wbieb were not attributable to the intrigues
S"u .“.l In his bcpth.i- .nil ,mv,„ V,
S : Vs=i sii == svr.r't.” r.
a?, th ™.»«tssrJ Htssz?<ssr&
of British trade, and the maiK = hQw t)ie tm . bulent tribes
of theSarhad formed at the outset a standing menace to the safely of the Nushki
trade route : M. Miller acquired their language; made presents to their Chiefs ,
encouraged tlicir unrest; and welcomed their raids on British caravans. His
encouia^ea uieu , 1 . border _ Even acro ss the frontier Ins
agents sowed sedition, and tampered with the loyalty of British sabjects.
'Hie undemareated border from Jalk to Koh-i-Malik biah offered a propitious
field for fomenting discord between the Shah’s officials and the local agents
of the British Government: the tension at Mivjawa and at other points
hear witness that M. Miller suffered no occasion to pass by unused. On the
Afghan border the elements of discord were ever present, lor thirty jeais good
will and reason had sufficed to regulate conflicting claims to land and water
on the Helmand. M. Miller bad dreams o£ Russian intervention, and hoped
to win his end by fostering disputes. But he had overlooked the terms of
Persia’s treaties. Dissension might he sown by Russian artifice, but the
disputes were to he composed by British arbitration, lolled in his object,
M Miller set himself to thwart the British Mission and to undermine their
influence. The Russian Consul was tl.e constant adviser of the Persian
representative in all his dealings with the British arbitrator. Throughout their
1 V 10 nivWr. of affronts and annoyances, each or which was
stay the Mission was the object of affronts and
traceable to Russian instigation. Under M.
introduction of a western fiscal system was
obstruction of British trade, the annoyance
promotion of a chronic antagonism between the
and the representatives of British interests
1 TA • 1 * 1 /-I rl T VA 4" 1 WA 1 /l O T
annoyances,
Miller’s artful guidance, the
turned into a means for the
of British travellers, and the
Belgian servants of the Shah
Subordinate officials, Belgian
and Persian alike, were cowed and intimidated. If any failed to exercise Ins
power to the detriment of British aims, he was sure of a remonstrance
from the Russian Consul. If any displayed the conciliatory spirit. due to
the Agent or the subject of a friendly Power, he was certain of denunciation at
Tehran. The Governor himself, the Hashmat-ul-Mulk, an hereditary officer,
was persecuted for supporting British rights. Complaints were ceaselessly pre
ferred at Tehran of Persian interests sacrificed to British ends; and no
intrigue was spared to bring about the Hashmat’s deposition. But M. Miller
overreached himself. In the summer of 1903, by the spread of false icpoits,
he roused the mob of Nasratabad to undertake an anti-British agitation. A
riot ensued, and for the moment the situation was serious. But the disorder
was suppressed; the firm attitude of Mr. Dobbs, the British Consul, secured
the punishment of the ringleaders; the Russian Consul’s efforts were foiled ;
and M. Miller was discredited. The following month be left Seistan on leave,
and shortly after was transferred to a new appointment in Kerman. His brother,
Dr. Miller, stayed for only a few months longer.
The Belgian Customs system supplied a ready instrument to further Russian
ends. No sooner had the Belgians assumed control of the old-established Customs
posts, from which a valuable revenue was to be derived, than they turned