'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.' [‎27r] (58/386)

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operators tlie right of access to all offices on the line. A month later the
Mushir-ed-Dowleh admitted that permission had been given for the construc
tion of a line from Kuchan to the Trans-Caspian frontier. British counter
measures could no longer be postponed, and in August 1905, arrangements
were made for the despatch of two more operators, in addition to the two
deputed in the previous ye;.r, to be stationed at Birjand and Turbat-i-Haidari.
Ihe presence of the British Mission in Seisian was a cause of unconcealed
annoyance on the part of Kussia; and no intrigue was spared to make occasion
tor a Russian countermove. The neighbourhood of Hashtadan had been the
scene of frequent boundary disputes, and in 1891 a section of the border had
been delimited by the good offices of the Indian Government. In the autumn
of 1903 the Persian Foreign Minister declared that Afghans had encroached on
1 ersian territory at Musabad near where the demarcated frontier ends. En
quiry by a British officer revealed that the disputed tract had been in
Hashtadan Boundary. Afghan occupation for a period of at
least eight years. The local villagers
declared the lands were Afghan territory. The Persian Governor at Khaf
had uttered no complaint. The Governor-General at Meshed was content to
acquiesce in Afghan occupation. There was no doubt as to the agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. by
which the Central Government was prompted. A Persian engineer arrived
tiom lehran to survey and report upon the boundary. This emissary made
no secret that the Persians would prefer to let the matter rest, and acted
solely under Russian instigation. The Russian Minister had hopes of Russian
intervemion. But the treaty of 1857 had again been overlooked. The
Persian Government invited the assistance of the British Minister, and ur"ed
that the Amir should be restrained from violation of the Persian border. His
Highness had already been addressed, and after long delay requested that a
British officer might be despatched as arbitrator to settle the dispute. But the
Russians perhaps had seen their mistake. It was clear that further urging of
the Persian claim could only lead to British arbitration. The Russian pressure
had already been withdrawn probably owing to the unfavourable course of the
war with Japan; Persian complaints had ceased; and the Afghan occupants
were suffered to remain in undisturbed possession.
The struggle with Russia has been ceaseless. But British interests
have more than held their own. Slowly but surely the Pax Britannica
has penetrated to the frontier of Baluchistan. A growing trade has
knit more closely the common interests of the Indian and the Persian
border. The unscrupulous intrigues of M. Miller have ended in his own
defeat; and his successors, profiting by his example, have shown a moderation
for which it seemed in vain to hope. Firmness and patience have allayed the
constant friction with the Belgian officers. Successful vindication of the
Hashmat’s rights has demonstrated that the British Government, if slow to
grant assurances of help, have yet the will and power to protect their friends
in case of need. The arbitration on the Afghan border has marked the un
mistakable ascendancy of British power; while the withdrawal of the Mission
has furnished one more proof of the sincerity of British friendship. In spite
of every effort of the rival Power, the British Consul has acquired increasing
weight at Nasratabad, and seven years of constant watchfulness and anxious care
have laid a sure foundation for the further building up of British influence
in Southern Khorasan.