‘Confidential. Persia’ [‎508r] (65/112)

and Russian Vice-Consulates, and that we should
therefore, regret his removal. As His Highness
knew, our political interests in Seistan were iden
tical with those of Persia, and if the Hashmat
was now and then, as in the matter of the Indian
shops, a little too disposed to do nothing to assist
us without positive orders from Tehran, I must
not be understood as in any way complaining of
his action as a Persian official whose first duty was
naturally to his own Government.
* * * *
“ For the present it looks as if the Hashmat-ul-
Mulk, having settled with the summons from
Meshed, will be left alone, but my exchange of
views with the Atabeg-i-Azam has, I venture to
think, afforded a convenient cpportunitv, should
Your Lordship be disposed to take it, of placing
on record in a formal communication which I might
make to the Persian Government, the opinions of
that of His Majesty with respect to Seistan, so
that no further misapprehension can exist on the
subject in the minds of the Persian Ministers.
Such a communication might intimate our willing
ness to include the revenues of Seistan, as well
as those of the Gulf ports, as security for any
future financial assistance which Persia needed, as
well as our inability to acquiesce in their possible
alienation, whether directly or indirectly, to a
foreign power. I do not, of course, presume to
suggest to Your Lordship the language which
should beheld on the subject. I merely venture
most respectfully to submit, for your consideration,
that the discussions which I have had with the
Persian Government as regards Seistan may, per
haps, afford an occasion for formulating in an
unmistakeable manner the views held on the sub
ject by His Majesty’s Government. Your Lord-
ship will, I trust, approve of my having abstained
for the present from hinting at the action which
you might be obliged to take in the event of
contingencies in Seistan which have not yet arisen,
or become imminent.
On 9th July 1901 Lord Lansdowne
addressed the following despatch to Sir A.
Hardinge containing the views of His
Majesty’s Government in respect to Seis
tan :—
No. 47, dated the 9th July 1901.
The Marquis op Lansdowne to Sir A. Har
dinge.
(Extract.)
“ In the course of the last few months rumours
have reached His Majesty’s Government from
various quarters of projects to introduce the influen
ce and authority of a foreign power in Seistan.
His Majesty’s Government have received no
confirmation of these reports, and are unwilling
to attach credence to them ; but they think it
desirable to place on record their views with regard
to their interests in Seistan, in order that 'the
Persian Government may clearly understand the
serious light in which they would regard any
proposal to change the existing situation in that
country.
The Persian Government must he well aware
of the political and commercial importance which
attaches to Seistan from its proximity to the fron
tiers of India, and of the desire which His Majes
ty’s Government have always shown for the