File 1323/1916 Pt 1 ‘Baluchistan:- Disturbed conditions on the Anglo-Persian border. Future administration of Mekran, Sarhad & the Kalat States’ [‎243v] (484/896)

62
99
MEMORANDUM.
Peesia.
Sarhad Affairs.
,T Tt-leeram* from His Majesty’s secretary
ofiiatX Indi., No. 3655, dated 12th October
19 (2) Telegrara-t from Hie MsjeBty’e Secretary
of ^tate for India, No. 3656, dated 12th October
1923.
The papers specified in the margin were
transmitted to His Majesty’s Minister,
Tehran, under cover of the Eoreign
Secretary’s letter No. 15-T., dated the
22nd October 1923.
Political
100
Telegram No. 3459, dated the 19th October 1923.
From-Tbe Hon’ble the Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in
Baluchistan, . -n v^- i tv a
To-Tbe Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart-
ment, Simla.
Beference mv 3274* September 27th. 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. , Chagai, report*
that of the camels stolen 135 hare been recovered and sent to Mirjawafor
return to the Kharan Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. .
101
Telegram P., No. 250-L., dated (and received) the 23rd October 1923.
From— The Hon’ble the Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in
Baluchistan, Quetta,
To—The Foreign Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and
Department, Simla.
Since your despatch No. 36§ of 1917, conditions in politics and feeling of
Southern/ersian Baluchistan and Persia have substantially changed and I
should doubt if amour propre of Persia would permit despatch from
Mekran side of contingent to help to instal Governor, hut, at the same time
ability of Persia to tackle Dost Muhammad without such assistance is doubted
by local officers. Should Persians accept it, our position m Mekran would
undoubtedly be rehabilitated to a considerable degree by despatch of contingent.
H such assistance is not accepted by Persians it appears that we cannot do
more than leave it to them to devise their own method of imposing effective
control, while insisting ou breaking of Dost Muhammad s power, an imposition
of effectual control, which would apparently only be rendered possib y
permanent location at Bampur or Fahru] of adequate Persian force and
machinery of Government. I should doubt if it would be possible to carry on
effectively from Duzdap, government of Southern Persian Baluchistan, owing
to distance and differences of problems with which Governor would he faced.
It mio-ht be well to press this view upon Persians, hacked by demand tor
compensation for long bill for continued border offences that is owed to
Mekran. I should doubt whether any attempt to interfere in domestic politics
of Persians would be other than unacceptable and it appears that the only
alternative is to press for establishment, by whatever means Persians deem
most suitable, of effective control, while offering at the same time assistance and
co-operation from Mekran side should this he acceptable, and to adhere to
warning suggested and position taken in concluding paragraph of your telegram
No 1220-S. |l With reference to your telegram No. 1283-S.lf establish
ment of British Consular officer at Bampur would not be a safe proceeding,
unless protected by strength of troops which would involve very heavy
* Serial Ko. 92.
f Serial No. 93.
JS. No. 81,
|1 Serial No. 88.
Serial No. 97.