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Settlement of the Opposing Claims of Persia and Afghanistan to Seistan [‎434r] (15/54)

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The record is made up of 1 item (27 folios). It was created in 25 Mar 1871-9 Dec 1871. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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After prolonged negotiations which, on the part of the
No. 71 of 8th November 1870 , were distinguished by even
amount of procrastination
was finally decided that the
should have priority, and
started for Bampur, which
in January.
No. 75 of 16th November 1870, and No 77
of 30th November 1870.
Earl of Granville, No. 75, telegram of
3rd December 1870.
Mr. Alison, No. 79 of 5th December 1870
No. 83 of 6th December 1870, and No. 2 of
1st January 1871 (enclosure 6).
Persian Government,
more than the usual
and prevarication, it
Mekran arbitration
the Commissioners
they reached early
(Sd.) G. JENNER.
Precis—Seistan Boundary.
Early in 1370 communications were made to Mr. Thomson to the effect
? °i f J th January i87o, tha t the Persian Government were much alarmed
No. 30 of 24th March 1870, and No 31 of W o 44 * 4 - a act alarmed
29 th March 1870. attitude of the Afghans on the Seistan
r" ~ “t
to arms, as they had obtained possession of Seistan with the authorization of Her
Majesty s Government as expressed in Lord Russell’s despatch to the Persian
Minister m London of 5th November 1863. If attacked, they would defend
convenient point " " C0Unter - 1 »~ t in t,le direotion of Herb or any otW
Simultaneously with these declarations at Teheran, a similar communication
Lord Clarendon’s No. 12 of 24th February was made to Lord Clarendon in London by the
Persian Minister.
4 4 -Pif e ^ d ° n 0n receivin ^ w ™te to Mr. Thomson that “ the 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.
state that if the Government of Persia is willing to submit the question of the
sovereignty of Seistan to the arbitration of the British Government in accordance
v/ith the terms of Article VI. of the treaty of Paris of March 1857, the Governor
General of India will be communicated with, with reference to the expediency
of obtaining from the Ameer Shere Ali Khan, his acquiescence in the proposed
arrangement. When this proposal was recommended to the concurrence of the
Persian Government by Mr. Thomson, in obedience to his instructions, the Shah
sent him a royal autograph, of which the following is a translation:
‘'Respecting Seistan this is not properly worded ; that the British Govern
ment is to act as arbitrator in the question of the sovereignty of Seistan. In the
event of the Afghans undertaking hostile movements against Seistan, let the
English Government act as arbitrators in accordance with the provisions of the
treaty concluded by the Amin-ed-Dowleh in Paris. Let him (Mr. Thomson) with
draw the word £ ‘ sovereignty” from this paper, leaving only the word <c Seistan,”
and you can then agree that the British Government is to be the arbitrator. We
invite the arbitration of the English Government for the purpose of preventing mis
chief and confusion on the frontiers, and the attainment of this object depends upon
the friendly action of England, so that it may not happen that, “ God forbid,” the
question of Persia and Afghanistan should recur. Give this very autograph which
we have written on this paper, to the British Charge d’Affaires, and let him
peruse it.”
(Translated by.)
J. IBRAHIM.
After considerable hesitation, however, the proposal was accepted in the
Mr. Thomson’s No. 41 of 19th April i87o, following terms in an autograph letter from the
No. 42 of 22nd April i87o. Minister for Foreign Affairs.
“The Persian Government, although they consider that the question of Seistan
„ , . __ , was settled according to the purport of Earl
ncosurem o. 2 . Russell’s despatch (Earl Russell to Persian
Minister in London, 5th November 1863), yet having full reliance in the justice of
the British Government, they are willing to make Her Majesty’s Ministers arbi
3

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Letter and Enclosures to HM Secretary of State for India, dated 31 October 1871, concerning the settlement of the opposing claims of Persia and Afghanistan to Seistan [Sistan]. The papers lead up to the establishment of a commission of arbitration of the Seistan boundary, under the adjudication of Major-General Frederick John Goldsmid.

The papers cover: précis of correspondence concerning the Perso-Khelat [Kalāt] boundary settlement; background to the dispute between the two countries over the Seistan boundary; correspondence from Goldsmid, setting out a framework for the arbitration, and reporting the progress of negotiations; correspondence from Charles Alison, HBM's Minister at Teheran [Tehran], reporting the attitude of the Persian Government; a reported increase of Persian forces in Seistan, June-July 1871; instructions for the commencement of survey work in the area; British action to induce the ruler of Afghanistan to abstain from hostilities; and a letter from the Viceroy to the Amir of Cabul [Kabul] concerning the Seistan arbitration, 31 October 1871.

The Enclosures are dated 25 March - 31 October 1871.

Extent and format
1 item (27 folios)
Arrangement

There is an Abstract of Contents on folios 428-432, numbered 1-46.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Settlement of the Opposing Claims of Persia and Afghanistan to Seistan [‎434r] (15/54), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/5/268, ff 427-453, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100089599248.0x00004b> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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