The Settlement of the Persia-Baluchistan Frontier [‎591r] (19/40)

No. 106^ dated Gulahek, the 13th August 1871.
From—C. Alison, Esq., c. b., Her Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Teheran.
To—The Eight Hon’ble the Earl or Granville, k. g., &c., Src., &c.
In continuation of my despatch No. 105 of the 11th instant, I have
the honor to enclose a memorandum of what took place at a conference held
yesterday at the Minister for Foreign Affairs respecting the settlement of the
Perso-Khelat boundary question.
The Shah proposed settling the matter, and waiving all further discus
sion by appropriating part of the territories which are considered to rightly
belong to the Khan of Khelat. I declined being a party to any such transac
tion, and observed that as Commissioners had gone to the spot to collect
information respecting the territoral rights of the respective parties, it would
be desirable at all events to hear what they had to say.
It is satisfactory to observe that the Shah has waived his claim to
Gwadur and Kedj; and I do not think that the Persian Commissioner is pre
pared to dispute the fairness of the frontier line as laid down by our
Commissioner.
A tracing^ showing that line with the modification proposed by the Shah
is annexed to this despatch for Your Lordship’s
inspection.
* Sent by General Goldsmid.
Memorandum hy Mr. W. J. Dickson, —dated Gulahelt, the \§th August 1871.
Mn. Alison, accompanied by Major-General Goldsmid and suite, called
upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs, by appointment, on the 12th August.
Mirza Saeed Khan said that the Shah had attentively examined the map of
Beloochistan and General Goldsmid’s report, both of which had been forwarded
to him by Mr. Alison. His Majesty observed that if there were Districts in that
quarter which were not now actually in the possession of Persia, it did not
follow that they should be considered as not having belonged to her. Indeed,
every preparation had been made for the recovery of her rightful property.
Troops and material were ready, and the inhabitants of those countries were
willing to submit to their lawful sovereign. If Persia desisted from advancing
in that direction, it was simply out of deference to the wishes of Her Majesty’s
Government, who came forward and expressed the opinion that it would be
desirable to lay down a boundary line. Persia accepted willingly the interven
tion of a great and friendly power like England, and it was accordingly agreed
that Commissioners should proceed to examine the frontiers, first of Seistan
and then of Mekran. Persia was not prepared for the Mekran question being
the first to be taken up; that however was done, and it was no use reverting to
the matter. Persia’s claims extended far beyond the line marked down in the
map under consideration, and she had always considered Kedj as her rightful
property. The Telegraph Convention, ratified by Her Majesty the Queen,
showed, moreover, that the consent of Persia had been obtained for the extension
of a line/row Gwadur, thus admitting that Gwadur belonged to Persia. Many
other arguments could be adduced in support of Persia’s rights. His Majesty,
however, animated with a desire to meet the wishes of Her Majesty Govern
ment, decided on waiving his claims to Gwadur, Kedj, &c. Put as a portion of
the boundary marked by General Goldsmid passes through desert tracts, His
Majesty was of opinion that, by deviating a little to the eastward of that line,
a river is found which would afford a more natural frontier. He accordingly
followed the course of that river, and then joined General Goldsmid’s line which