‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎287r] (572/949)

5
16 . Here I parted with Sir A. Hardinge, who had shown the warmest desire
to co-operate in the objects of my cruise, and who was equally vexed with
myselt at the contretemps that had occurred at the sole spot where it had been
proposed that 1 should land upon Persian soil. During our many conversations
we discussed the subjects of British and Indian interests in Seistan, the Seistan
boundary demarcation, the proposed removal of the Hashmat-ul-Mulk, the
attitude of the Belgian Customs officers, the BiUsso-Belgo-Persian policy on
the Baluch frontier, the extension of the Indian and Indo-European tele
graphs to Seistan, the channels of correspondence between our Consul in
Seistan and the British Legation at Tehran, the appointment of Bussian
telegraph-signallers in Central Persia, and the extension of Bussian tele
graphs in the north, the B&glement Douanier, the recent loan to the Persian
Government and the question of the Southern Customs, the maintenance of the
British quarantine officers in the Gulf, the raising of Bakhtiari and Lur
levies or road-guards, the location and functions of British Consular officers,
whether appointed from the Levant A geographical area corresponding to the region around the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Service or from India, in Southern
Persia and the Gulf, and the political and strategical defence of the interests
of Great Britain in her legitimate sphere of influence by land and by sea.
The results of these discussions and the recommendations of the Government
of India will in many cases form the subject of later representations to His
Majesty’s Government.
17 . The question had been raised whether I should make an attempt to see
the Sheikh of Mohammerah. As, however, I did not propose to ascend the
Shat-el-Arab, as an invitation to the Sheikh to meet me elsewhere than in his
own territory might, in view of his peculiar and rather delicate relations with
the Persian Government, have given offence to the latter, and as Sir A. Hardinge
himself intended to visit him a little later, it seemed to me that the idea had
better not be pursued. The Sheikh sent me a very courteous letter by the
hand of Major Burton, our Vice-Consul at Ahwaz, and to this I replied in a
similar tone.
18 . At Bushire my tour of the Gulf was really at an end : the squadron
dispersed : and, touching, only at Task for telegraphic messages on my return
journey, the “ Hardinge ” carried me back into Indian waters. On the way
I halted for a day at Pasni, a small port, with a possible future before it, on
the coast of British Makran.
The opportunity was taken to hold a Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). for the Chiefs and Sardars
of 'Western and Southern Baluchistan. Colonel Yate had come for the purpose
from Quetta, and the Sardars attended in force from as far as Las Bela on the
east, Kharan on the north, and the Persian border on the west, having in some
cases been marching for weeks in order to be present. No Governor-General
had ever previously visited Makran. It is a part of the Indian Empire, which
has been somewhat neglected, but which, as soon as peace has been thoroughly
established on the Persian frontier, will acquire some importance and admit
Enclosure No vn a not Considerable expansion. The
speech which I made at the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). will
be found among the enclosures.
19 . On 7 th December I arrived again at Karachi, after an absence of
exactly three weeks. The programme had been carried out, with one excep
tion, in every particular: and the utmost good fortune had attended us
throughout. The weather had been extraordinarily favourable : and all the
officers concerned had laboured hard to make the proceedings a success. It
cannot, I think, be doubted that they will have left upon the rulers and peoples
of the Gulf a powerful and lasting impression of the incontestable predo
minance of British interests in those regions, and of the resolute intention of
the British and Indian Governments to maintain them.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
(Signed) CUBZON.