"سيستان" [و‎‎٣‎٣] (٧٨٢/٦٥)

3
(2D \
These districts are geographically separate from Kirman, with which they have
po concern they are separated by a great desert from Kirman, and there
1S ri^ 0 P ft Ul com . mun * ca ^ 0 . n with Kirman across the desert. The argument
adduced by Captain Sykes is that the trade route passes through both districts
rom _andar Abbas. This trade route runs to Meshed and beyond, and if Captain
v y es argument is applicable, the whole of Eastern Persia from the Russian
rentier to the Sea should be included in one Consulate-General.
. 7 ' ^ or ,j e , r t0 wor ^ his.district Captain Sykes urges that it is essential
a . e s ould have a well paid agent at Kirman. It does not seem to me that
r i 15 ? v eSSa,ry, i WOuld P ro P ose that Captain Sykes should return to Kirman.
Colonel late made recommendations as to this part of Persia also, but as it is
beyond my jurisdiction, I do not propose to further consider the matter. Seistan
however, is in this Consulate General, and it does not appear to me advisable to
continue the present arrangement according to which Captain Sykes is under me
as regards Seistan and independent of me with respect to everything else. With
respect to Seistan he corresponds direct with the Secretary of State for Foreign
Anairs. I his arrangement was only a temporary one, as it was intended that
• Telegram No 31, from Minister, dated 24th substantive arrangements* should be made
October)! 8 , 8 , to Consul-General, Meshed (co Py afterwards, whether a Consulate is estab-
tnmpthofir , r . . hshed by Russia or not in Seistan, it seems
Officer h AntI ?h t V t a , ConSuI ln Kamand Seistan, he will require a Medical
the wS P / S J fl haS T® ?J an once asked for one and ma hes the request
Meriffi 1 Offi herewith. If we do not maintain a Consul there, still a
Medical Officer is required in any case. Plague may at any time break out ■ and
1 we do not establish plague observation posts, the Russians will. They have a
doctor and two assistants at both Karez and Turbat-i-Haidari, with a lady doctor
all timI a s to r e P a Kr a t, nd C0ssacks under Russian Military Officers ready at
other wet f 3 COrd ° n t0 Pre n. the passa 2 e of a11 Pe rso "s. traders 7 or
easily on tbe nlca ? fuff™™? B,rjand and Seistan the Russia >^ could
a y ' P f lea of establishing plague observation posts gain a predominant
position there from which we could not dislodge them. This could be obv atod
by the presence of a British Medical Officer, 8 with two Hospital Assistanlf l
J, p'ul" did hv 0 U ' < i‘! r C °d mmend th iV he P r °P°sal made
, r n , J . , ' • b y my predecessor Colonel Yater shnulrl
be followed, and that this officer should be my Assistant. The settlement of
political affairs and cases arising out of trade could be placed in his h“ to
has also to be borne in mind that if we maintain a Consular Officer in Kain and
Seistan before Russia has appointed one, Russia will probably be obliged to
appoint one as a counterbalance. If W e appoint a Medical Officer he S would
counterbalance the Russian Officers already at Turbat-i-Haidari and Karez
mendations- theS6 ClrcUmStances 1 would be 2 make the following r'ecom-
^ n ai ^ dependent Con suIate should not be created in Seistan and
(6) Captain Sykes should return to Kirman.
(c) A Medical Officer for medical and political work should be an.
pointed to Kain and Seistan as Assistant to the A°-ent to the
Governor-General and Consul-General, Meshed. ' ' “
9 ; In my letter No. 103 of June 24th, I have already pointed out tW
Captain Sykes has on several occasions expressed his opinion that our nlto
and interests in Kain and Seistan could be guarded by the occasional vLrof an
No. 6, dated Duruksh, the 7 th July 1899 .
From—P. Molesworth Sykes,
To—Sir Mortimer Durand, K.C.S.I., etc.
. In accordance with your instructions that I should
limits of my consular district, I would venture to request thatohe t0 ‘4
Kain form a portion of it, as at the present time q " 1 th province of