File 3939/1926 Pt 5 'Revision of Aitchison's Treaties: Persia, Seistan, Kerman and Persian Baluchistan' [‎163v] (320/558)

Ixxx
PERSIA—APPENDIX NO. XXII—1888.
The Persian claim was not again put forward until 1885, when it was again
disputed by the Afghans.
Whether the assertions and statements of the Afghan Agent regarding the
regulations adopted for patrols, escorts, and liability for payment of compensation
are accurate cannot obviously be ascertained until the Persians have had an oppor*
tunity of making a reply.
Both sides will probably summon crowds of witnesses to support their state
ments and the result will not be satisfactory or convincing.
Since the alleged attempt of Kilich Khan at occupation up to 1874 the claims
of the Afghans seem to have lain dormant, but even then no attempt was made
by them to occupy the place themselves. Upon the whole, looking to the nature
of my present information, it seems to me that neither Persians nor Afghans can
produce proofs of recent possession in support of their respective claims, neither
having felt inclined to stand the brunt of collisions, in such an exposed locality,
with the Turkomans.
The case seems eminently one for compromise, in which both parties should
somewhat abate their pretensions in order to render an equitable settlement possible.
Such a settlement is possible only by a division of the water-supply available
for irrigation as indicated by the old karezes* or kanats (old water canals). It
* Under-ground canals. is on this principle that the compromise indicated
t Already submitted to Govern. on map + 0 f t}^ Hashtadan valley has been
ment of India. r '
C.M. based.
By accepting the above compromise Persia will secure the greater portion of the
arable land of the valley including the actual land over which the dispute arose,
and on which work was interrupted by the Afghans, as already described.
On the other hand the Afghans will secure what they profess to desire, vi .
supply of water for the irrigation of the Kafir Kalla landsj and all the grazing
grounds lying on the southern end of the valley-
Neither Persians nor Afghans are aware of the
nature of the compromise I have in view, hut it
is remarkable that Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Hassan Ali Khan, who
is in no way a favourer of Afghanistan, pr 0
posed a compromise very similar to mine, of the
nature^of which, 9 ! course, he is complete y
t The Afghans will also have a
considerable area of arable land
at Chahar Kalla, as well as the
large tract near the mouth of the
Shorab pass which can be irrigated
from the large canal, and the culti
vation at Tir Kisht can be extend
ed to a considerable extent.
C.M.
ignorant.
C. 8. Maclean,
Brigadier-Gem^
Meshed :
The^Gth November 1888.