'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.' [‎99r] (202/386)

CHAPTER. XV.
British Activity in Scistan.
A necessary condition of prosperous trade between India and Seistan was
tbe establishment of improved administration on the line of the caravan route
in Baluchistan. Prom Quetta to Nushki (90 miles) tbe road passed through
the Niabat of Nushki in the territories of the Khan of Kalat. The general
Maladministration cf Nushki by the administrative incapacity of the Khan
Khan of Kalat. and of his representative in Nushki was
constantly and forcibly exemplified by the inability of the Khan to maintain
authority or to protect the frontier from raids or to keep the elements of
disorder in restraint. The Khan had been frequently urged by the Local
Government to introduce reforms which would secure for the district some
measure of tranquillity. But his interest in Nushki where his authority
was of the slenderest, rvas measured by his receipts. Rather than put himself
to the trouble and expense of raising the standard of his administration in
the Nushki district he preferred to part with it and spontaneously offered to
hand it over to the British Government for an annual payment, substantially
in excess of what he himself was able to collect from the country.
2. On political grounds Lord Curzon considered the proposal desirable. In
Lease of Nushki by the British Gov- the event of the development of Russian
emment. activity in Seistan, Nushki would be an
invaluable base ; the suggested measure would give the Government of India
an unbroken belt of administered territory all along the Afghan border from
Domandi on the Gomal to Koh-i-Malik Si ah, Nushki being the only break in
the belt. The Secretary of State agreed to the proposal and on the 1st July
1899 an agreement was concluded with the Khan of Kalat for the lease of the
district and Niabat of Nushki in perpetuity to the British Government absolutely
with full and exclusive revenue, civil and criminal jurisdiction! for a fixed
annual rent of Rs. 9,030.
Development of the trade route.
3. Between Quetta and Nushki when the latter was taken over by the
British Government there was no road except the ordinary country camel track
and no shelter on the halting stages for travellers and caravans. Beyond
Nushki to Robat some improvements had been made, but realignment w 7 as
required in parts. The Government of India immediately on conclusion
of the lease took up the question of
the development of the Seistan trade
route. The Local Government was informed that the Government of India
attached great importance to this route and that it was in the highest degree
desirable both from a political and commercial point of view so to safeguard
and improve this line of communication between India and Seistan, that
British interests in South-Eastern Persia might be adequately sustained,
and that the trade in this quarter might be established on a secure and per
manent basis. Many improvements had been made during the last three years,
but the Government of India recognised that the construction of public works
necessary to give the route an impetus required help from Imperial revenues.
When the provincial contract with Baluchistan was made in 1897-98 for five
years the grant provided for the trade route was Rs. 19,200 a year, this was
subsequently increased by Rs. 16,360 a year from special revenues. It was now
decided to increase the assignment to special revenues by Rs. 31,000 for the
remaining three years of the Provincial contract and it was ruled that a sum of
not less than Rs. 66,560 a year should be spent on the trade route. The general
lines for its development were sketched and an Assistant District Superintendent
of Police was appointed to assist the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in the duties of supervision
and inspection.
4. The first nine months witnessed a distinct decrease in the number of
Progress of the Quetta-Siestan trade frontier outrages ; and this no doubt in a
route ‘ measure accounted for the record of good
work and substantial progress made during the year 1899-00. The total sum
expended on the trade route amounted to Rs. 72,523-0-8, of which Rs. 34,067
wgre devoted to public works, and there wqs a remarkable increase in the trade