'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎21v] (47/386)

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. , , n p nn » n V« bao* continued to be carried by a British
on to Nasratabad, ^ ^° r i l ^Mahon’s stay in Scistan, special arrange^
post. During the ponod of Colonel M^aa iain t a . n .^ 0n the t ; ti of
rssS sJi- r ’ **" *
times a week for letters, and once a week ior parcels. .
Telegraph extension to the Persian despatch of Colonel McMahon’s
s» sr srsrjxrss r*s: Arare«a
S fnr as Mbandin, and in October of that year it was determined to extend
as tar as # i , of r F)\p extension was completed by
the line to f'fi.e^followit'a year. But the continuation of the lino from this
^“T^Nlsmtahadrequhed the permission of the Persian Government, who
nleaded tot they were debarred from granting their consent by a prom.se
si. Ru.»i : m j :;
sS-.'m'S'Vi.i"..."'*!!"" ff Bnnd.r Ablins -itb th. Bri.i.U .able nt
neniam In the meanwhile, however, news had been received that, m the
ttenjam. „ „„ reemen t had been made with Russia permitting the
construction of" a line of telegraph from their frontier at Bajgiran to join the
Pers on system at Kuchan. In November of the same year, the Muslur-ed.
iwitn fn, nv>llv denied the "rant <f anv such concession, and it was not till
June of 1905 that the Persian Poreign Minister at length admitted that the
rfo-ht had actually been given, and eonfessed that no reason could any longer
be ur"ed against the British extension to Nasratahad. 1 he absence of the
Shah fn Europe still made it difficult to press the point. But S.r Arthur
Hardinge was confident that, on His Majesty’s return, the desired concession
might at length be secured.
E-irly in 1902, occasion arose for a practical demonstration of British
interest in Seistan. By Article VI of the Anglo-Persian Treaty of 1857, the
Shah engaged that, in the event of differences arising between the Gov-
ernments of Persia and Afghanistan, they should he refereed for adjustment to
the friendly offices of the British Gov-
The Seistan Arb tration Commission. eminent. Under the terms of this agree
ment, a previous dispute as to the boundary between Persian and Afghan
Seistan, bad been referred some thirty years before to the arbitration of the
British Government. General Sir Prederick Goldsmid had been deputed to
adiust the difference, and in 1872 had pronounced an award which was
accepted by both Governments. The boundary of the award was mainly based
on natural features, and for a long distance was declared to follow the course
of the Ilivcr Helmand and the margin of the lagoon into which that river
pours its waters. During the succeeding thirty years the Helmand had
changed its bed to the west, and the lagoon had assumed a new position.
Disputes had from time to time arisen; but till 1901 they had yielded to local
settlement. The arrival of a Itussian Agent made this no longer possible.
The differences were fostered by the Russian Vice-Consul, who hoped thereby
to find an excuse for Russian intervention. In 1902, the position became
acute, and on the 24th July 1902, the Persian Government invoked the
good offices of the British Government under the Treaty of 1857. After
some delay the Amir agreed to the proposed arbitration, and Colonel
McMahon was nominated as British Commissioner. The Mission, which
comprised ten British officers,* started
from Quetta on the 10th January
1903, escorted by two companies of
infantry and a squadron of cavalry, and
accompanied by a large staff of surveyors,
levellers, and draftsmen. By permission
of the Amir, the route taken was to Lundi
Wali Muhammad and thence via the HeR
mand River through Afghanistan. At
Khwaja Ali, the Mission was met by the
Afghan representative, who accompanied the party up to the Persian border.
• Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., Britiih
Commissioner.
< aptain A D. G. Rnmsay, Personal Assistant.
Major T. I). Irvine, Medical officer.
Major H. P. Walters, Commanding Escort.
Maj r C. Wajiliss- Intelligence officer.
Mr. T. R. J. Ward, Irrigation o'ficer.
Mr. W. A. Johns, Railway officer.
Mr. G. P. T.ite, Survey officer.
Captain It. C. Hell, Commandant, 58th Camel
Corps.
Lieutenant C. R. H. P. Landon, Command ng
Cavalry Escort.