Coll 28/28 ‘Persia. Perso-Baluchistan Frontier. Demarcation near Mirjawa.’ [‎42r] (94/658)

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Memorandum by Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.iIe., Briti s h Cou,
sioner, Seistan Arbitration Commission, dated 5th November 1904,
on the Perso-Baluch Boundary question— Mirjawa to Koh-i-Malik
Siah.
As there is some prospect of the settlement of this portion of the boundary
soon being taken up, 1 consider it advisable to note briefly the principal salient
features of the question, and offer certain suggestions as to its treatment.
2. It is unnecessary to go into the details of the voluminous correspondence
on this subject, which is on record in the offices of the Glovernment of India
and the British Legation in Tehran.
8. The principal facts are briefly as follows
When settling the Perso-Baluch boundary. Colonel Holdich based his
information, as to the northern portion of that boundary, on a map w T hich, as
proved by subsequent investigations, in no way correctly represented the coun
try under consideration. His boundary line was defined in his agreement in
accordance with that map, and a 'printed copy of that map,* with the boundary
line drawn on it, and signed by both Commissioners, was delivered to the
Persian Commissioner—cw/e paragraphs 45 and 46 of Colonel Holdich’s final
report.f It is important to remember this, and to note the position of the
boundary line shown in this map, relative to places such as Lar Koh and
Mirjawa. The tracing, which is attached to Colonel Holdich’s final report is
not his agreement map, as supposed by some. It was prepared after his return
to India. A one of the northern portion of the boundary was visited or surveved
by either the British or Persian Commissioners.
W 1 , 4 ’ t T, ' e 1> ? rs i® n Commissioner proposed to run the boundary line along the
laJab + river to Duzdap, and thence in a straight line to Koh-i-Malik Siah.
5. Colonel Holdich, very unfortunately, did not take advantage of that
proposal, but selected, instead, a line further east, on the supposition that it
secured “ a strongly marked and almost impassable frontier ” {vide paragraph 9
of his Report No. 35 of the 5th April 1896 and paragraph 4l of Report No. 77
T 16 ,? 31 ? I 89,5 )- He considered that “no more perfect boundary than
tnat afforded by mountains and river combined could be devised.” The inaccu-
S blS . 1 - nformation ’ and conclusions based thereon, is illustrated by the fact
that the said mountains are in no respect impassable, and the river on which be
relies is incorrectly named. No Mirjawa river appears to exist.
_ 6. The English version of the boundary agreement of Colonel Holdich’s
Mission includes the following clauses :—
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“ From pillar 11 northwards the Talab river becomes the boundarv to its
junction with the Mirjawa river. J
“ From the point of junction it is carried by a straight line to the nearest
point on the watershed of the Mirjawa range, which limits the drainage into the
Mirjawa river on the north. b
,, TI 161106 R follows the main watershed northwards to the highest point of
me Kacha Koh. r
+i ^rom the highest point of the Kacha Koh the line is carried straight to
the highest point of the Koh-i-Malik Siah.” b
1892^^0.1^^ toch - Sto >‘ N°-14S..W„ dated Horen.b®
A. H. McMahon.
t No. 77 of 23rd June 1896.
A. H. McMahon.
t So-called in Colonel Holdich’s agreement, but I believe the proper name is Tahlab.
A. H. McMahon.