ملف ١٩١٦/١٣٢٣ الجزء ١ "بلوشستان: الأوضاع المضطربة على الحدود الأنجلو فارسية. الإدارة المستقبلية لولايات مكران وسرهد وقلات" [ظ‎‎٣‎٧‎٩] (٨٩٦/٧٥٦)

2
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I am convinced that the remedy lies in making the authority of the Kalat
State more obviously paramount in Mekran. It has indeed always been para
mount in theory, but it seems that the presence of the Assistant Political
Agent and the Officers of the Levy Corps have served to devitalize that authority
instead of strengthening it;
5. I propose then that the post of the Assistant Political Agent in Mekran
should be abolished, thus leaving in Mekran itself one sole executive authority,
i.e., the representative of the Kalat State. I admit that for the present at any
rate the selection of this representative is of the first importance. What is
required is a man who will be strong enough to exercise his authority to the
full and who in the eyes of the people has some special right, some obvious
mandate. I bel|ve that in Mir Azam Jan, brother of the Khan of Kalat
himself, we have a man who is pre-eminently fitted to represent the authority
of the Kal^t Statefin Mekran as Governor It would be a popular appointment
amongst the Brahui and Baluch Sardars, and the Gitchkis would welcome him
as the proper representative of His Highness, whom they can respect and look
up to. His Highness himself has expressed his pleasure at the idea. Por the
rest Mir Azam Jan is a man of strong character, entirely fitted to cope with
unruly elements, to keep order in the country, and to hold his own against
intrigues and agression from the Persian side of the border, winch have
lately contributejl to a considerable extent to unsettle the country. So
important do I consider it that no time should be lost in restoring confidence
in Mekran, that pending the formal sanction—but with the knowiedge—of the
Government of India I have sent Mr Azam Jan to Turbat forthwith, and
have allowed the present Wazir to take leave. But if Mir Azam Jan’s
governorship is to be a success, his authority in Mekran must not be weakened
by any obvious division of that authority in the country itself. He will of
course be under the control of the Kalat State, which itself is under the
Political control of the Political gent, but experience has shown that the
presence of an Assistant Political Agent in Mekran itself only leads to weak
ness, as I have explained above in proposing the abolition of the appointment.
I further consider that the continual presence in Mekran of British Officers
of the Levy Corps would fatally hamper the new Governor in asserting his
authority. Not only would Mir Azam Jan feel his own position difficult
vis-a-vis these obvious representatives of British authority, but if the truth be
told I believe that only with the greatest difficulty is it now possible to find
the type of British Officer required for this Corps. The lonely life, the lack
amenities and the unhealthy climate in Mekran have their effect on
of
European Officers compelled to live in Mekran itself, and it is only with
difficulty that they are induced to stay on. It has been found that British
Officers appointed to Mekran want to go away after they have spent only a year
in the country ; whereas only those whose heart is in the w 7 ork and w 7 ho have
special qualifications can hope to understand the people and politics of Mekran
and make a proper use of the Levy Corps. More/ver, there is no doubt that
British Officers in Mekran run considerable risk. The people are singularly
susceptible to fanatical feeling and in keeping British Officers in the country
itself, w T e run a risk which the situation, so far as the administration is con
cerned, does n6t demand. • I therefore propose that the British Officers of the
Corps should be reduced to one, w T ho w ould be styled Commandant and whose
function would be similar to that of an Inspecting Officer of Imperial Service
droops. He would have no political authority and his headquarters should
not be in Mekran itself. To take the place of the other British officers of the
Corps, I propose that Indian Officers should be appointed as 2nd-in-Command,
Wing Officer and Adjutant, the appointment of Bessaldar-Major being aboli
shed. As regards the distribution of the Corps I propose to put 300 men in
Mekran itself, of which 50 would alwuys be in Turbat, the Commandant or
Inspecting Officer having his Headquarters at Sorab in Kalat which is in easy
communication with Kalat and Mastung. Of the three British Officers of the
Corps, the Assistant Political Agent and'Commandant will take leave which
he badly needs, immediately. The 2ndjn-Commend is already on sick leave
in England, so that only the most junior of the three, Lieutenant Packman,
w ho is in a poor state of health, remains in Mekran. This is most undesirable,
and I consider that for every reason Lieutenant Packman should leave Panjgur