'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.' [‎21v] (47/386)

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on to Nasratabad, tlie Consul’s bag continued to be carried by a British
post Durino* the period of Colonel McMahon’s stay in Soistan, special arrange
ments were made, and a daily post was maintained. On the termination of
the Mission, this service was replaced by one which gave a despatch three
times a week for letters, and once a week lor parcels.
It was soon evident that Seistan must be placed in direct communication
\ i « Porsian with the Indian system of telegraphs.
^Telegraph e.te.s.on to the Peman ^ of ^ nlonel McMal.on'a
Mission was the occasion for extending tlie line of telegraph from Quetta
towards Seistan. By the autumn of 1903 a single wire had been advanced
as far as Dalbandin, and in October < f that year it was determined to extend
the line to the Persian border at Hobat. The extension was completed by
January of the following year. But the continuation of tlie line from this
point to Nasratabad required the permission of the Persian Government, who
pleaded that they were debarred from granting their consent by a promise
made to Russia in 1901. For the moment it was thought advisable to
defer insistence on the linking up of Nasratabad, in order to secure the
Shah’s assent to the connection of Bunder Abbas with the British cable at
Henjam. In the meanwhile, however, news had been received that, in the
spring of 1903, a secret agreement had been made with Russia permitting the
construction of a line of telegraph from their frontier at Bajgiran to join the
Persian system at Kuchan. In November of tlie same year, the Mushir-ed*
Dowleh formally denied the grant of any such concession, and it was not till
June of 1905 that the Persian Foreign Minister at length admitted that the
right had actually been given, and confessed that no reason could any longer
be urged against the British extension to Nasratabad, The absence of the
ghah in Europe still made it difficult to press 1 he point. But Sir Arthur
Hardinge was confident that, on His Majesty’s return, the desired concession
might at length be secured.
Early in 1902, occasion arose for a practical demonstration of British
interest in Seistan. By Article VI of the Anglo-Persian Treaty of 1857, the
Shah engaged that, in the event of differences arising between the Gov*
ernments of Persia and Afghanistan, they should be referred for adjustment to
, . ^ „ . . the friendly offices of the British Gov*
The Seistan Arb tration Commission. l tt j xi x c x, •
ernment. Under the terms of this agree*
ment, a previous dispute as to the boundary between Persian and Afghan
Seistan, had been referred some thirty years before to the arbitration of the
British Government. General Sir Frederick Goldsmid had been deputed to
adjust the difference, and in 1872 had pronounced an award which w T aa
accepted by both Governments. The boundary of tlie award was mainly based
on natural features, and for a long distance was declared to follow the course
of the River Helmand and the margin of the lagoon into which that river
pours its waters. During the succeeding thirty years the Ilelmand had
changed its bed to the w T est, and the lagoon had assumed a new position.
Disputes had from time to time arisen ; but till 1901 they had yielded to local
settlement. The arrival of a Russian Agent made this no longer possible.
The differences were fostered by the Russian Vice-Consul, who hoped thereby
to find an excuse for Russian intervention. In 1902, the position became
acute, and on the 24th July 1902, the Persian Government invoked the
good offices of the British Government under the Treaty of 1857. After
some delay the Amir agreed to the proposed arbitration, and Colonel
McMahon was nominated as British Commissioner. The Mission, which
comprised ten British officers,* started
from Quetta on the 10 th January
1903, escorted by tw r o companies of
infantry and a squadron of cavalry, and
accompanied by a large staff of surveyors,
levellers, and draftsmen. By permission
of the Amir, the route taken was to Lundi
AVali Muhammad and thence via the 11 el-
• Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British
Commissioner.
« aptain A D. G Ramsay, Personal As-istant.
Major T. D. Irvine, Medical oiHcer.
Major H. F. Walters, Commanding Escort.
Maj r C. Wanliss, Intelligence olhcer.
Mr. T. R. J. Ward, Irrigation odicer.
Mr. W. A. Johns, Railway officer.
Mr. G. P. Tate, Survey officer.
Captain R. C. Bell, Commandant, 58th Camel
Corps.
Lieutenant C. R. H. P. Landon, Command ng
Cavalry Escort.
mand River through
Afghanistan.
At
Khwaja All, the Mission was met by the
Afghan representative, who accompanied the party up to tho Persian border.