‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎140r] (278/949)

A. H. McMahon.
No. 2407, dated Camp Kohak, the 25th September 1904.
From— Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan
Arbitration Commission,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
In continuation of my telegram No. 789 , dated 5th instant, I have the
honour to forward herewith a memorandum on the Seistan water question,
together with four draft awards thereon, for your consideration.
{Secret and Confidential).
MEMORANDUM ON THE SEISTAN WATER QUESTION.
1. The settlement of the water question between Persia and Afghanistan
in Seistan involves other questions of a purely political nature. Success in the
effective carrying out of any arbitral award that may be given on this subject
largely depends on the pressure which the Government of India may, from time
to time, bring to bear on the Afghan Government, or cause to be brought to
bear on the Persian Government, to prevent the terms of that awardAieinP-
ignored by either side. °
2 . It is, therefore, necessary for the arbitrator to refer the matter to the
Government of India, in order that bis award may not commit that Govern
ment to future responsibilities greater than may seem to them desirable or
reasonable.
3 . To facilitate a proper understanding of the water problems which now
await settlement, I have briefly recapitulated, below, all the salient points in
the past history of the Helmand river, the disputes which have arisen re^ardino-
it, and the results of our local enquiries and observations. ° °
4 . I also attach drafts of awards based on conclusions derived from the
above. In framing them, I have endeavoured, in each, to meet the fair require
ments of Persia and Afghanistan, but at the same time to provide variations in
the general scope of the award, so as to enable Government to select that which
may appear to them the most suitable.
5 . Like all rivers when they reach a delta, the course of the Helmand, and
History of the Helmand river and branches in Seistan, has been subject
7 ater , conneete(i therewi 'k to considerable changes from earhW
times, as shown by the traces of numerous
old river beds here and there visible throughout the country. Certain points in
the earlier history of the river will be referred to later. I will first deal with
its history from the year of Sir Eredrick Goldsmid’s Arbitration Commission
in 1872 , to the present day. 5
6. It is evident, from observations recorded by Sir Eredrick Goldsmid’s
Mission during their stay in Seistan, and from careful local investigations now
made, that in 1872 the Helmand River had only one important offshoot, i.e.
the Rud-i* Seistan. That rud, or canal, as it should more correctly be termed*
took off from the Helmand at the Rand-i-Kohak (also known as the Band-i-
Seistan) which was situated at its present site, and thence followed practically
the same course westwards as it does at the present day. *
7 . The main river, from the Band-i-Seistan northwards, followed its
present course to near Shahgul, and, thence, the course of the present Nad Ali
and Sikhsar channel into the Naizar and Hamun. The Rud-i-Pariun did not
exist, and the result of so large a volume of water following one channel caused
heavy annual inundations of the large area of country known as Warshufti*
comprising most of Miankangi and Kila-i-Kang tracts.
• Warshufti is the name given to alluvial lands. This Warshnfti tract was subject to periodical inundatinna
sufficient to coyer it with grass and tamarisk jangle, too much to allow of cultivation, but not sufficient for reeds m
grow. Lands inundated sufficiently for reeds to grow are known as Naizar.