'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.' [‎122v] (249/386)

140
hostile influence at head-quarters was steadily exercised in a variety of wnv$
to compass his fall, there can be little doubt, and a fresh occasion for ur^ino*
his dismissal arose in June 1003 during the Banjar riots, an anti-British
agitation in Seistan.
46. This agitation, believed to be inspired by M. Miller, was directed against
Banjar riots. ^ 10 P re sence ol the Boundary Commission
. /i a ii , , p aDd escort - Its inception dated
precisely from the arrival (10th and 12th June) in Seistan of the W expected
Bussian caravan from Meshed under the superintendence of the Gomaslita of
the Russian Bank named Meshedi Ahmad and Ali Jan the Chief A^ent and
factotum of the Russian Consul. The arrival of the caravan placed at his
disposal a large number o( commercial agents who were dispersed thr the
villages to negotiate for the purchase of goods and who combined with
these duties the diffusion of false reports regarding British designs on
Seistan A rumour was widely spread in the city (Nasratabad) that
Colonel McMahon had been buying large quantities of grain and deli
berately burning it in order to enhance prices and cause discontent in
SeiBtan with a view to interfering and seizing the country for the British
Tb 0 0f l he agitation was at the outlying village of Baniar. On
the 26th of June, being the day fixed in India for the celebration of
the Kmg-Emperor s birthday, a mob from Banjar appeared before the British
Consulate, shouting and demanding the expulsion of the Commission. Mr.
Bobbs, the Consul, sent to the Governor to demand an instant interview. In
the meantime the mob after insulting and threatening the Hindu traders
who sought the protection ot the Consulate, moved off to the Governor’s house.
The Governor unwillingly received the British Consul, who demanded the
punishment of the ringleaders of the moh. The Governor temporised and
Mr a Dnhh' a -t ' e f C I U ' the Karguzar’s approval; and, although
insisted upon evidence being taken there and then, he was unable for
the Wetrfew ?) UCe T ^ any action against the rioters. During
the mteri lew the mob mishandled the ehaprassi and syoe of the British Consul
stm further W -G—'-'-./npite of his protestations, committed himself
still luitlier by authorising at the instigation of M. Maurice the Behmn
Customs officer, the stoppage of supplies to Colonel McMahon’s Mission. The
position was serious and the moh was so emboldened by the Governor’s apathy
that the Consulate was m imminent peril of attack. The fears of the HashnuR
by R an assurance from The "conYul^ that th^^Brifisli 0 G Were ’ ll 0 W f Ver ’ alla ^ ed
permit his downfall simply on account of his plish ng oflLnc^a^insTBritBB
subjects fie was spurred on by a threat of w ithdrawal of Ssh^Zort and
gerojs *7
Cohme^McMahMi’s 8 troops "'mfiashZttVe^' rt ^ ^
affairs were approachin-a crisis in^w’. '^ t0 , m'®, Secrctar y . ot st a‘e that
permanently affected unfess His Maiestv’s Covi 1 - t ' a(: our position would be
line at Tehran. Ainonf' other measured ini ?' nm f' nt took a ver y emphatic
A. Hardinge should hi iurtructed to So™ the Be S, ’ S?eSted “f* Sil '
would not allow of the supersession of G ^ vernment that we
Excellency also tele-ranhed to sfr A VE- 1 ? ,edlt;,r y. Governor, and His
his vigorous supporUf hhe Hashmat should occasion arhe '” 8 he h0l,ed f0t '
GovemL^rur^^tfMrthh ’ 6 0piDi ^ ia - ,lich Majesty’s
no small difficulty, were marked bv won P. roc l edm S s > ln circumstances of
McMahon’s conduct in cZnec ionVth the affV and de ?' Si ° D ’ and Colonel
latter was instructed that ho would be iustifie^ L^ MT^ved. The
strengthen the Consular "uaivl 'inrl fn c J s 111 en ipioying his escort to
Of the safety of British subjects being seriously endungL'ed . 110 " 1168 ^ ^ eTent