‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎152r] (302/949)

6a
MEMORANDUM.
The papers specified in the margin were transmitted to the Secretary,
Persia. Political Department, 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. *
Seistan Series, Part 5 , Nos. London, for the information of His
Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, under cover of the Foreign Secretary’s
letter No. 44 M., dated the 3 rd November 1904 . ^
7
Telegram, No. 4257 F., dated the 5th November 1904.
From—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla,
To—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London.
Seistan Arbitration. Please refer to Colonel McMahon’s letter of 25 th
September 1904 , which was forwarded with Secretary’s letter of 13 th October.
M e do not consider it desirable to do anything that may give birth to any
idea that the Persians have any claim to extend irrigation by channels to be
constructed through Afghan territory. Moreover, the Persian Government
insisted that the decision in the present case should be in accordence with
General Goldsmid’s award, and we prefer to confine the award to this. Award
D, therelore, seems the most suitable with the following modifications. Omit
paragraph 4 of the preliminary remarks, and prefix to paragraph 5 the following
sentence : ^Begins. Unfortunately of recent years, whatever may have been the
cause, and whether that was due to the change in the course of the main stream
or to more strained relations, the amicable settlement of water difficulties has
been found to be no longer possible. Lnds. In paragraph 8 before words
“ further laid down ”, enter “ after consulting General Goldsmid ”. The rest of
clause should run as in Award A.
. paragraph 10 C, instead of Bander-i-Kamal Khan, read Band-i-Kohak.
Omit the last section of clause 2 of award from Seistan on, and clauses 3
and 4 .
This is proposed, as it is useless to attempt to prevent the diversion by the
Afghans of all the water between Bander-i-Kamal Khan and Band-i-Kohak, as
they might do this further up-stream at Kala-i-Bist or elsewhere, and it is
undesirable to give the Persians any voice in matters outside their own bound
ary. The difficulty will be to ensure that Persian Seistan receives \ of
supply that at present reaches Band-i-Kohak, and the only way of securing this
will be to appoint an expert irrigation officer, as suggested by Colonel McMahon.
We trust that his proposals in this respect will be approved.
But it is a great question if Goldsmid’s award renders it necessary to give
Persia more than enough water for existing irrigation, 141,000 acres, for which
less than one fifth of Delmand would be sufficient. As however, owing to change
in main channel, most of Helmand water now passes through Persian Seista'n,
and as area commanded by existing Persian channels amounts to 460,800
acres, of which, on existing system of cultivation whereby half area lies fallow
each year, * 30,400 acres could be irrigated and cultivated, we think that £ of the
water might be allotted to Persians, but this is the absolute maximum, and
should only be given, if award is accepted in its integrity. If you concur, we
would inform McMahon that award to this effect would not be open to objection
from our point of view, and that he can announce it when demarcation, which
Amir has formally authorised, is completed, provided that political status quo
in Seistan is not threatened, in which case he should refer to us for orders.
8
Telegram, No. 4258 F., dated the 5th November 1904.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Simla,
To Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan Arbi
tration Commission.
Your letter No. 2407 , dated 25 th September. Following telegram to
Secretary of State is repeated for your information :— Begins, Seistan Arbitra
tion. **»«** should refer to us for orders. Ends,
Have you any suggestions to offer ? Please reply urgently.