ملاحظات أُعدت كمرجع خلال جولة كرزون في الخليج الفارسي، وأوراق أخرى عن بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي [و‎‎٣‎٢‎٤] (٦٧٨/٦٤٧)

[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty’s GovernmentJ
NO. 7. PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY.
ASIA.
[October 26.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 1.
2421
No. 1.
Consul Sykes to the Marquess of Salisbury .—(Received October 26.)
(No. 8.)
My Lord, Kerman, September 7, 1895.
I HAVE tlie honour to report my return from an eight days’ tour to the south-
south-east of Kerman. The reason for the journey was that his Highness the Earman
Earma invited me to visit him at his Mahun garden, which invitation I accepted, as it
gave me the opportunity of making the acquaintance of the priestly guardians of the
famous shrine, and, at the same time, prevented me from losing touch with
himself.
After two days spent at Mahun I travelled to Arababad, near which village runs
a route to Earn, hitherto unexplored.
Three days were spent in mapping the country, after which Mahun was again
stopped at, my visit to the shrine having been deferred until the return journey.
In Sir E. Gfoldsmid’s “ Eastern Persia ” (vol. i, p. 193), it will be seen that no
members of the Mission were allowed to enter the shrine, whereas, in my case, I was
invited to enter everywhere without removing my boots.
In the main gateway I had a long interview with the assembled priests, who were
extremely polite and evidently most anxious to be friendly.
Upon my departure, the chief guardian of the shrine thanked me for my visit,
and the following morning sent me a present of fruit with complimentary messages,
thus ending an entirely amicable meeting with the most influential “ Mollahs ” of the
district.
In a previous despatch No. 6, I mentioned that the Earman Earma had only just
reached Kerman, and that I would defer any report as to his actions until he was
settled in the post.
He has now been in office for more than two months, during which period our
relations could not have been more cordial.
It must be remembered that, on two previous occasions, I have been his guest,
travelling in Beluchistan with him, during the spring of 1894, for more than two
months.
I paid my official call the evening of his arrival, which he returned on the third
day, thereby offending the chief “ Mollahs,” as, strictly speaking, it is not laid down
that the Governor should return the Consul’s call, which places Her Britannic Majesty’s
Representative in an utterly false position.
Upon the occasion of His Majesty the Shah’s birthday, which occurred a few
days later, in proposing my health, the Earman Earma stated that he was devoted to Her
Britannic Majesty’s Government, and would forfeit possessions and life to serve it.
I have persuaded his Highness to invest money in India, a first instalment of
100,0G0 rupees having been dispatched to Bombay during the past few weeks.
In the Mashkhel question, which is connected with the settlement of the Perso-
Kharan frontier from Kuh-i-Malik-Siah to Jalk, the Earman Earma has not only
shown me the letters of the Shah and Sadr Azam, or Prime Minister, but also has read
me his reply, which, upon information supplied by me, proved that Mashkhel at present
belongs to neither State, that Her Britannic Majesty’s Government has no aggressive
desires, and that, to avoid friction and expense, the question should be settled once for
all by a Commission.
The Shah’s previous ideas on the subject were extremely fantastic, as he not only
believed Mashkhel to be of immense value, but also was convinced that it was owned
by Persian subjects.
My 1893-94 journey, close to the line in question, has stood me in good stead, as
giving me a thorough local knowledge.
Added to these palpable proofs of adhesion to Her Britannic Majesty’s Govern
ment, I would mention that his Highness sent the Governor of Beluchistan to see me
[1588 i—1]