"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [ظ‎‎٦‎٨] (٣١٠/١٤١)

6
for January). The report, which is character
ised by gross ignorance of the country, accuses
the Yamin-i-Nizam and Colonel McMahon
of surrendering to the Afghans certain tracts,
some of which are still on the Persian side of
the boundary and others far inside Afghan
limits, which have never come into question
at all.
The Mission has now moved down to
Kohak. Much difficulty was experienced on the
march owing to the exceptionally cold weather.
In view of possible contingencies, Colonel
McMahon decided to send to Saindak, on
the trade route, 1,000 camel-loads of the
reserve store of grain which he had collected.
The question of the export of grain from
Seistan was referred to Tehran some time ago,
but Colonel McMahon did not press for an
answer, as Mons. Molitor informed Colonel
McMahon that the Mission would be allowed
to export grain intended for their use on the
return journey. In spite of this, Mons. Molitor
has protested against the export of supplies,
and he claims the right to levy duties on grain
and ghi exported by the Mission, quoting as his
authority a telegram from Mons. Naus, dated
the 16th June 1904. Colonel McMahon has
protested, as the order is contrary to the
spirit of the exemption granted to the
Mission hy the Persian Government. Mean
while Sir A. Hardinge has telegraphed from
Tehran that the Director of Customs has
complained that Colonel McMahon is export
ing grain without declaration or payment
of duty. Sir A. Hardinge advised that
Colonel McMahon should give the Director
a formal undertaking for the payment of duty
on all exports, unless the Persian Gov
ernment should accede to his demand for free
export. The Government of India have now
requested Sir A. Hardinge to make a strong
protest to the Persian Government against any
profit being made out of the exigencies of the
Mission, which has been so long employed in
the interests of Persia.
AFGHANISTAN.
Herat ,—Russian frontier officers now
refuse to allow Afghans to enter Russian
territory unless provided with passports signed
by Afghan officials to the effect that they are
bond fide traders. J
Reports from Sheikh Junaid have been
received at Herat to the effect that the Russians
are increasing their forces there by six reo-i-
ments, one of which has already arrived The
Russians are apparently deliberately spreading
these reports. The Sipah Salar is strengthen
mg the detachment at Chahil Dukhteran in
th6des P atch of news from