Settlement of the Opposing Claims of Persia and Afghanistan to Seistan [‎450v] (48/54)

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Enclosure No- ...... _ . ....
No. 2367 P, dated Simla, the 31st October 1871.
From C. U. Aitchison, Esq., c. s. i., Secretary to the Government of India,
Foreign Department.
To— General Goldsmid, c. b., care of Resident at Aden (to await arrival).
The Secretary of State having intimated in his despatch No. 7, dated
31st August, his wish that the Government of India should issue to you such
instructions as they may think fit in regard to Seistan, in accordance generally
with His Grace’s letter to you of 9th August 1870, I am directed by His Excel
lency the Viceroy and Governor General in Council to address you as follows.
2. The enclosed telegrams will put you in possession of what has recently
passed between the British Minister at Teheran and the Government of India
on the subject of the Seistan arbitration. The course to which the Persian Gov
ernment have finally agreed is fully described in Mr. Alison’s telegram to the
Viceroy, dated 23rd"October. The written assurances of the Persian Government
have not yet been received. You are, however, authorized to apply direct to Mr.
Alison for a copy of them. In the meantime Mr. Alison’s telegram seems suffi
ciently explicit. The instructions which have been already issued to you by Her
Majesty’s Secretary of State will hold good, except in so far as they are modified
by the basis of arbitration to which the Persian Government has now definitely
agreed. Should you, however, be in doubt on any point, you are requested to
communicate with me by telegraph.
3. The necessary communication will now be made by the Government
of India to the Ameer of Cabul. As His Highness has already expressed his
willingness to act agreeably to the instructions which the British Government
may communicate to him after the receipt of intelligence from Persia, no diffi
culties on the side of Afghanistan are anticipated, and you may shape your pro
ceedings on the assumption that the Ameer has definitely accepted the basis of
arbitration to which His Majesty the Shah has now agreed. In case any diffi
culties, however, may arise with the Persian Government regarding the pre
sence and position of Colonel Pollock, the officer whom the Viceroy has selected
to meet you on the frontier, I enclose for your information a copy of a telegram
from the Secretary of State, dated 3rd September 1870, in which it is explained
that c ‘ it is fully understood that officer appointed by Viceroy will accompany
Cabul Commissioner.” Colonel Pollock’s position with regard to yourself is
clearly set forth in paragraph 9 of the Secretary of State’s instructions to you
of 9th August 1870.
1. That you may understand generally the views and policy of the Gov
ernment of India on the Seistan question, I am to forward confidentially, for
No. 39 , dated 1st July isvo. your information, a copy of the despatches noted
No. h, „ 7th „ „ . j n t p e mar gj nj addressed by His Excellency the
Governor General in Council to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State.
5. In accordance with the request made in your telegram from Harrow,
orders have been issued for a gun-boat to be at Aden on 15th November to con-
vey you to Bunder Abbass, and for an apothecary to meet you there. It is
desirable, however, that you should not leave Aden until it is decided whether
Colonel Pollock is to accompany you through Persia to Seistan, or to proceed
there by a separate route.
. 6. It is impossible to anticipate all the points of detail on which you may
wish further information or instructions, but any reference from you, either by
letter or telegraph, will meet with prompt attention.
Enclosure No-
No. 2368 P, dated Simla, the 31st October 1871.
From C. U. Aitchison, Esq., c. s. i.. Secy, to the Govt, of India, Foreign Dept.
To—C olonel F. R. Pollock, c. s. i., care of Resident, Aden (to await anival).
I am directed by the Viceroy and Governor General in Council to forward,
lor your information, a copy of a telegram from the British Minister at Teheran,
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