‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎507v] (64/112)

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Seistan, which wo cannot afford to neglect. We Secret P., June 1901 , Noe. 6 - 31 , Proceeding No.
strongly deprecate any action on part of Persian 22 ‘
Government which might occasion disturbances in
Seistan, and thereby compel us to take measures
for the protection of these interests.”
In his despatch No. 9S, dated 2Gtll June ^re^F., SeptemUr 1901 , Nos. 120 - 156 , Proceeding
1901, Sir A. Hardinge reported haring
communicated the above message to the
Mushir-ed-Dowleb, who consented to sus
pend the adoption of any measures which
could disturb the status quo in Seistan
until the Minister could see the Atabeg-i-
Azam. On 30th June Sir A. Hardinge
saw the Grand Vizier himself and an im
portant conversation ensued which is
reported in the following despatch :—
No. 103 (Confl.), dated Gulahek, the 30th June
1901.
Sm A. Hardinge, to the Marquis of Lansdowxe.
“ I have the honour to report, in confirmatiou of ma, So. 151 .
my telegram No. o3 of today's date, that the
Grand Vizier being now convalescent, I had an
interview with His Highness to-day, at which I
stated that I was instructed by Your Lordship to
make a communication to him on the subject of
Seistan.
“ I spoke much as I had done (as reported in my
despatch No. 98 of the 26th insiant) to the
Mushir-ed-Dowleh, dwelling chiefly on the great
and growing importance of our commercial inter
ests in Seistan, and on the natural concern which
we should feel at any political changes there of a
nature to imperil or even exeicise an unfavour-
ablo influence on them. Bearing in mind the
telegram from His Excellency the Viceioy of
India of the 1st instant, I said that whatever
views might be held as to the respective interests
of Great Britain and Bussia in other parts of
Persia, it was clear that in Seistan on the very
borders of our Indian Empire British interests
must be recognised as predominant in comparison
with those of any other country, and that, whilst
repudiating all intention of ‘interference in the
internal administration of the country, Y'our Lord
ship could not be indifferent to the interpreta
tions which might be placed there on the attitude
of the Persian Government in connection with
those interests towards the local authorities or
chiefs. The Russian Vice-Consulate bad given
out, or was said to have done so, that the Hashmat-
ul-Mulk was being summoned to Tehran and had
got into trouble with His Highness because he
had cultivated good relations with Colonel Trench
and Major Benn, and although to <rny one who
was aware like myself of the friendly sentiments
entertained by His Highness towards His Majes
ty’s Government such a story was too absurd to
deserve contradiction, it might nevertheless have
a regrettable effect upon credulous and ill-inform
ed^ persons in Seistan itself if its circulation
coincided with any symptoms of diminished
confidence in the Hashmat on the part of the
Central Government. I was careful in speaking
to His Highness not to praise the Hashmat too
much : I said thatiu many small matters we had
found him obstructive, but that on the whole
he had kept the balance evenly in commercial
and other current questions between the English