File 1323/1916 Pt 1 ‘Baluchistan:- Disturbed conditions on the Anglo-Persian border. Future administration of Mekran, Sarhad & the Kalat States’ [‎379r] (755/896)

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Letter No. 783-S., dated the 16th February 192^.
From—The Hobble Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Armine Dew, K.C.I.E. C.S.I. Affenfc
o the Governor General and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan
To-The Hon’ble Mr. Dara B,ut, C.S I., C.I.E, C.B.E., Foreign Secretary to
t e Government of India m the Foreign and Political Department.
Subject: Future Administration of MeJcran.
,, 1 .^ e . t ‘ le honour to address the Government of India on the question of
the Administration of Mefcran. For some months past it has been clear that
an.unsatisfactory state of affairs existed iu Mekran. Reports showed that a
spirit of unrest and a feeling of insecurity were abroad which eventually
culminated m the murder of a Gitchki 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. on the 6th October, in circums-
tances which pointed to a disregard for authority. 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. , Kalat
was sent to investigate the situation and his report is before me. ’
2. Naturally the aftermath of the war has been felt all* along the coast
The retirement from Mesopotamia, the Khilafat excitement in slnd and last'
but not least, the retirement m East Persia and the rumours of a complete
withdrawal from Khwash and Duzdap, have all contributed to unsettle the
country Unfortunately, those in charge of the administration vere not able
successiully to instil sufficient confidence in the minds of the Sardars and
leaders ol the people so that the strain of these exceptional events could be
met with equanimity The main features of the system of administration in
101 ee in Mekran are well known to the Government of India. It has always
Jlf er L P ol x ic y recognise as a basic fact that Mekran is an integral part of
the Kalat State. But in 1901, for reasons which had largely to do with exter
nal relations, an Assistant 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. was appointed to Mekran, and the
Mekran Levy Corps was brought into being. Sanction to this arrangement was
m a d ® s P atc ! 1 from Hi . s Majesty’s Secretary of State No. 47, dated the
13th May 1904 in which the principle was accepted that the Assistant Political
Agent should work in combination with the Nazim who represented the
authority of the Khan of Kalat, but should not in any way supersede him
except in frontier delations with officials of the Persian Government. In 1916
the Agent to the Governor General, in his letter No. 1274, dated the 29th
November, in reporting to the Government of India that steps were being taken
to relieve the Nazim, quoted the instructions he had given to the Assistant
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. as regards his relations with the new Nazim (thereafter to be
called Wazir Minister. ), and stress was laid on the necessity for a spirit of unity of
interest between the Wazir Minister. and the Assistant 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. .
I hope I have made it clear that the essential feature of the administration
was to be a proper understanding of the mutual relations and the respective
duties of the Assistant 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. and the Wazir Minister. . If this existed the
administration would be satisfactory—but not otherwise.
3. The events of the last six months show that in the new and disturbed
condition of these territories, due chiefly to the causes alluded to above, the
delicate balance between the sphere of the Wazir Minister. and the Assistant Political
Agent hss been upset. The evils of dual control have appeared, and each
authority has in fact been a source of weekness to the other. The Assistant
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. has found himself unable to keep in touch with the " Wazir Minister. , the
Sardars, and the Gitchki Sardars in particular, while the Wazir Minister. on his part has
been weak and has allowed the Sardars to get out of hand, with the result that
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. Bahadur Mehrab Khan, the leading Gitchki of Mekran^has absorbed too
much power in Mekran itself instead of keeping to his legitimate duties of
Sarhad/dar. Einally, the Assistant 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 his capacity of Com
mandant of the Mekran Levy Corps, has not carefully guarded against the
enlistment of unsatisfactory elements in the Corps.
4. I have carefully considered the situation in consultation with leading
Sardars and State officials, and I have come to the conclusion that conditions
have changed so much that in order to bring contentment to the countryside
it is better to make a slight change in system than bring about a mere chane-e
of personnel.
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