Coll 28/28 ‘Persia. Perso-Baluchistan Frontier. Demarcation near Mirjawa.’ [‎52v] (115/658)

8
depends on water sources contained in the southern face of the Siahan moun
tains. These groyes form an inseparable part of the Kohuk-lsfandak district
It was therefore absolutely necessary to make this deviation in order to include
the groves and their water-supply within Persian limits.
38. A smaller but still not unimportant concession was made in retiring
the line from the hill overlooking the Bonsar pass (to which point it is carried
by the terms of the Tehran agreement) sufficiently far eastwards to prevent
the command of the pass from falling into the hands of Baluchis whilst still
occupying Kalat territory. As it was clearly the intention of the Tehran
agreement that the Bonsar pass and the road connecting Isfandak and Kalagan
should fall within Persian territory, I thought it best to ensure the security of
the pass, although no special representation on this point was made by the
Persian Commissioner.
39. The third and by far the most important concession was that which
diverted the boundary northwards from the Tehran lines so as to separate the
northern group of date-groves (including Gorani, uksotag, etc.) from the
southern group which includes Ladgasht and Kalag, so asto bring the former
under Persian jurisdiction. Here the Persian Commissioner made strong
claims. He represented that the cultivators of these northern groves were
Hamanis, undoubted Persian subjects, dwelling near Ladis, and that it was
impossible that the Shah could have understood the situation when he signed
the Tehran agreement. He added, unofficially, that it would be necessary to
appeal to bis Government before permitting the groves to pass over to Kalat.
4\ The necessity for such a deviation is recognised in a Secret despatch
(No. 184 of 1895) from the Government of India to Her Majesty’s Secretary
of State for India, which recommends that this deviation should be adopted.
It is also clearly contemplated in Sir M. Durand’s letter of 30th December*
though not in his map. The Persian Commissioner’s representations as to the
nationality of the cultivators was found to be correct, and it seemed inex
pedient to adopt a line which the Damanis would have the right to cross at
their convenience, and which might thereby leave indefinite the question of
responsibility for the conduct of these most notorious raiders in future. There
was, moreover, a certain risk in the delay that would arise were references
made to Tehran. As the Commission progressed Tehran influences appeared
to grow weaker, and there was a strong disposition evinced by the local
Governor (the Asad-ud-Doulah, Zain-ul-Abadin) to assume control of the
Persian Commission.
4!. I conceded this point therefore on the understanding that (1) a special
clause should be introduced info the agreement, recognising the responsibility
of the local Governor of Persian Baluchistan for keeping the Damanis in check :
o • U 'll ^ at 1 i l 10 1 rt]lern section of the boundary line from xMashkel to Malik
biah Koh should be accepted on the terms originally laid down at the first
meeBng of the Commission with a certain modification which would secure
to Kalat a tract of desert country between the Amalaf Koh and the Talab
river a* a qmd pro quo ioT the concession of the northern groves. I might
possiblyhave claimed with success a considerably larger slice of territory west
°f fi 16 M C - h - an 1 !f 0 f ha A ^ 1S com P aratlYel y insignificant tract, including a part
of the Mnjawa district between the river Mirjawa and the range east of it
which beans the same name. But I did not press this point. Kalat has no
possible claims m this direction, and it would have defeated the object of
securing a strongly marked and almost impassable natural frontier, which will
bordeTlaX I dTd nof t 6 , t0 . th ^ eace and secui % «f this northern
horde, land. I did not think it advisable to weaken a good natural line bv
claiming n qmd pro quo which could be of no possible use to Kalat except for
purposes of aggression. -ivaiai, except iur
Persif' andTthe “ aterial . concessions have been made to
Tehran. ° 11 ’ S 0U ( ^ )e entirely satisfactory and acceptable at
, ’ m e f me time Kalat interests have not been disregarded Bv the
s sss xr:‘.„Tr