‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎200v] (399/949)

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the Persian officials; and you should also send instruction to the proper authorities that
in future they should not take such steps, which are inconsistent with the maintenance
of peace and order, so that no difficulty may arise.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Telegram from Seistan, dated May 26, 1904.
TWO weeks ago 400 camel loads from India have arrived at the camp of the
Britith Commissioner at Khajeh Ahmed, 6 farsakhs from here; about 100 riflemen
escorted the loads, and have entered by a route by which the Customs officials did not
see them.
Inclosure 3 in No. 1 .
Sir A. Hardinge to the Mushir-ed-Dowleh.
Your Excellency, Gulahek, June 18, 1904.
I HAVE had the honour to receive your Excellency’s note of to-day’s date
respecting the reported arrival of 400 loaded camels and 100 riflemen from India in
Seistan by an unusual route.
1 have no information myself on this subject, and I am disposed to regard the report
as one of the recurrent sensational rumours, such as the recent one about Afghan rein
forcements having been sent to Chakansur and Lash Gavain, which are regularly
fabricated in order to alarm the Persian Government and create suspicions and ill-feeling
against that of His Majesty the King-Emperor.
As your Excellency is aware, these numerous reports have nearly always proved on
inquiry to be pure inventions, and the British Commission has throughout loyally
observed the arrangement by which its escort was to remain in the immediate neigh
bourhood of the frontier, and not to enter Seistan proper.
I have, however, telegraphed to Colonel Macmahon to inquire if he can explain the
origin of this latest story, and if there is any foundation for it. I will acquaint you
without delay of his reply.
In the meantime, it occurs to me as possible that the men referred to may be the
reliefs or treasure-guards for whom I obtained special permission at the end of March
from the Persian Government to come to the mission camp by way of Kuhak, instead of
by the ordinary but more circuitous route of Kuh-i-malik-i-siah. These men arrived, I
believe, a little more than a month ago, so that the date of their arrival coincides with
that given in the telegram inclosed in your Excellency’s note.
If this be correct, then, as the Yamin-i-Nizam is aware of the facilities given to
these escorts, the telegram cannot be from him, and is probably from the Russian
Consul in Seistan. Perhaps your Excellency will kindly inform me if this conjee ure is
correct, and, if not, by whom the telegram of the 2 ()th May was sent.
I note, however, in your Excellency’s communication under reply a statement that
the riflemen and camelmen in question “ have violated the quarantine arrangements,”
and 1 would be grateful for further explanations on this point. I have no knowledge of
any quarantine arrangements in Seistan against India, and their imposition would indeed
be contrary to the provisions of the Venice Convention, to which Persia is a Signatory.
I am aware that a Russian force has established itself in Central Khorassan for quarantine
purposes, and that its proceedings have been objected to by the Persian and British
Governments, and have indeed necessitated the establishment of a British Consular officer
and guard at Turbat-i-Haidari; but there can be no question of quarantine in Seistan,
and 1 should wish, in transmitting a copy of your Excellency’s last note to the Government
of India, to dispel any doubt on this subject.
(Signed) ARTHUR H. HARDINGE.