"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [ظ‎‎٨‎٠] (٣١٠/١٦٥)

[ 6 ]
Sir A. Hardinge has addressed the
Persian Government regarding the difficulties
placed in the wav of British Indian traders
desirous of obtaining land for houses and
shops in Seistan. The Shah had objected to
any further grants bein^ made, on the ground
tbat nearly all land in Seistan was Crown
property. This objection is still maintained,
and, in addition, the Persian Government ask
tbat the question may be postponed, as they
have enforced the prohibition in the Asterabad
province, and are negotiating with Russia for
the withdrawal of the Russian Commission
at Gumbad-i-Kabus and for the purchase of
Russian buildings there. They hint that the
prohibition in Seistan is only temporary.
Messrs. McManus and Howson, two sig
nallers of the Indian Telegraph Department,
arrived in Seistan on the 17th March, in relief
of Messrs. Moore and Cooper who are returning
to India.
Orders have been issued for the withdrawal
of the telegraph line construction staff from
Robat, as information h is been received from
Sir A. Hardinge that the Shah will probably
prove unyielding over the proposed Koh-i-
Malik Siah-Nasratabad telegraph extension.
The Yamin-i-Nizam was asked by Colonel
McMahon for an expression of his opinion as
to who would be Governor of Seistan, and
said that he had long ago advised his Govern
ment to make Seistan and Kain one Governor
ship directly under Tehran, and also to make
new similar independent Governorships in the
Kerman province. He further said that he had
some time ago been offered the Governorship
of Seistan, but was unwilling to take it, unless
the present revenue contract system was
abolished. He had, however, offered to take
it on the Amani system, failing which he
would prefer diplomatic employment under
the Persian Foreign Office.
Mons. Molitor, who has received instruc
tions to construct caravanserais at Warmal,
Afzalabad, Muhammadabad, and Nasratabad|
and who has started the work, informed Cap
tain Macpherson on the 30th March that, when
asked originally to report on the necessitv for
the caravanserais, he stated that he did not
think them necessary from a Customs point of
view, but thought they would be a ^reat con
venience to travellers. He also told Captain
Macpherson that he had received no instruc
tions yet regarding any charges that might
be levied hereafter for the use of the caravan
serais, but was of opinion that these would be
purely nominal.
Captain Macpherson has heard that Mons.
Owseenko, the Russian Consul, has been
accusing him of spreading false reports about
the Russian losses in Manchuria.