File 1323/1916 Pt 1 ‘Baluchistan:- Disturbed conditions on the Anglo-Persian border. Future administration of Mekran, Sarhad & the Kalat States’ [‎222v] (442/896)

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Bampur, the Secretary of State nevertheless shares the views expressed
bv Sir P. Loraine that it would be undesirable to threaten the Persian
Government with a proposal to suspend the train service in order to bring
pressure to bear upon the Persian Government to take effective steps to
reassert their authority in the above districts. Such action would have
a deleterious effect upon British and Indian trade, while stimulating the *
revival of commercial relations between Russia and east Persia. It would
also diminish the customs revenue of the Persian Government, on which
the British loans to Persia are secured. Moreover any attempt to link
the question of the disposal of the Duzdap railway wdth that of the restora
tion of order in the Persian provinces marching with British Baluchistan
would inevitably entail further considerable delay in the settlement of the
former question, which has already formed the subject of correspondence
extending over a long period.
3. For the above reasons^ when once the view T s of the Government of
India on the proposals contained in my letter of September 3rd (Serial
No. 77) shall have been received, the Secretary of State would prefer not
to. delay the decision concerning the railway pending the result of repre
sentations at Tehran regarding the Sarhad and Persian Baluchistan, which
even in the not unlikely event of their proving acceptable to the Foreign
Government, cannot be expected to show an immediate result.
4. In the meantime Sir P. Loraine is being (See Serial No. 129) in
structed to urge upon the Persian Government the necessity of ilnmediately
addressing themselves to the urgent problem of resuming effective control
in the Sarhad and Persian Baluchistan on the lines set forth in your letter.
I
The Under-Secretary of State,
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
D. G. OSBORNE.
131
Telegram No. 3892, dated 24th November 1923.
From—The Agent to the Governor General and Chief Commissioner, Baluchistan,.
Gould’s telegram 4-Q. of 23rd November (Serial No 127). I have no
ticing to add to my letter No. 3890, despatched to-day.
132
No. 2-X., dated Quetta, the 22nd November 1923.
From—Lieutenant Colonel L. B. H. Haworth, His Britannic Majesty’s Consul,
Kerman,
To—The Foreign Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and
Political Department, Delhi.
With reference to your telegram 1283-S. of the 23rd October (Serial
No. 97), I have the honour to submit the following despatch.
2- You have called for a report concerning the desirability of appoint
ing a Consular Officer for Persian Baluchistan having regard to the general
circumstances existing. I have discussed the matter in general with the
lion ble the Agent to the Governor General in Baluchistan and with His
Britannic Majesty’s Consul Seistan.
3. i lie actual question of the appointment of an Officer residing at
Bampur or elsewhere in this district must necessarily depend upon the con-
trol of the country by the Persian Government. It is our common opinion
that it would not be feasible for an appointment to be made in the present