'Report on The Mission to Seistan, by Surgeon-Major G. W. Brazier-Creagh, A.M.S [Army Medical Services] 1897.' [‎13r] (30/131)

I was so far fortunate in making him view matters in such a different
light as not to send in his despatches a repetition of the exaggerated reports
about the ravages of plague in Quetta and Kandahar which the Persian
doctor had done.
His being an officer and a gentleman of enlightened and advanced profes
sional knowledge, made things easier, but he appeared to be hampered with secret
orders. Prom what transpired there could be no doubt of the nature of his
visit, and that he came with the express object of enhancing Russian prestige,
to push Russian trade, decry and preach against British trade, prestige, etc.,
as also with a view of crossing the deserts south of Seistan and penetrating on
our newly-acquired frontier by Malik Siah Koh.
He made repeated suggestions and requests for permission to visit my
posts and satisfy himself “ by order of his Government ” that all quarantine
arrangements were satisfactory.
In a friendly manner I protested, and informed him I could not tolerate
any breach of professional etiquette or interference in any way with my duties,
that the Government of India had given me a free hand in the matter of
expenses, etc., etc., to make all the arrangements I considered necessary,
which at great labour had been carried out.
Russian Officer's tour .—During his stay the officer made a short tour
along the villages in the south of Seistan {vide Despatch No. 3, dated 7th
July 1897), and at one village he frightened the officials and inhabitants by
threatening to have them punished for permitting traders to come into the
country; during this tour he also preached and decried English politics, trade,
and the quality of our goods.
A fruitful source of seditious preaching was that the British Govern
ment were now throwing the plague-stricken people alive into the seas at
Bombay, Karachi, etc., and burning the houses and people affected. This
widespread belief which was being circulated was a great source of political
mischief, for the natural inference was that the British rule was a curse
instead of a blessing to Muhammadans.
I returned by the same route the Russian officer had travelled over and
took a favourable opportunity of inviting him to dinner on return to Nasrat-
abad. At this interview I told him of what I had heard, expressing astonish
ment at his action, stating “ I did not think it compatible with the dignity of
a professional office to adopt such a line, and possibly foment trouble between
two powers ; that we were not there for political purpose, as far as my orders
were laid down. ,,
I requested an immediate discontinuance of his procedure, stating ctf the
Government of India, as far as I knew, had no desire to interfere in the politics
or independence of her neighbouring countries so long as her interests were
not interfered with, nor, on the other hand, did I think she would tolerate any
other power adopting such a role."
Furthermore, I pointed out the more rational and broad-minded view to
keep in sight was that there could be no objection to English trade and goods
having the same mart as Russian.
To the credit of the Russian officer, be it said, he complied with my
protests, or at least I concluded he did so, for no further complaints reached
me, and' up to the evening of his departure, we had almost daily exchanged
friendly visits.
He gave me his assurance on more than one occasion that he concurred
with me in thinking that plague was most unlikely to come into the country,
but that his Government would not be satisfied or believe in any representa
tions to the contrary made by him until the epidemic had entirely disappeared
from India.
He stated he would have to remain at Birjand for further orders, which he
did for some months and subsequently for a further period at Turbat-i-Haidari,
as several friendly letters passed between us from each place.
The unfortunate contretemps reported in my Secret Despatch No. 3, dated
7th July 1897, had something to do with the hasty departure of the Russian