"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [ظ‎‎١‎٤‎٥] (٣١٠/٢٩٥)

In the matter of the Seistan water award,
Mr. Grant Dufl had been instructed by His
Majesty’s Government to enquire of the
Persian Government if the Yamin-i-Ndzam
was acting under their orders in writing to
the Afghan Brigadier at Farrah that, as Persia
had refused to accept the award, it was
inoperative (see last Journal), and, if the
Yamin had acted on his own responsibility, to
request that lie might be instructed to withdraw
his letter. Mr. Grant Duff was also instructed
to inform the Persian Government that, as
they had asked for arbitration, they could not
revert to the status quo; but that, if after
discussion with the Tehran Legation they
were still dissatisfied, they must appeal against
the award to His Majesty’s Government, who,
while fully prepared to consider Persian
representations before giving a decision, could
not allow the Persian Government, as one
of the parties to arbitration, to notify to the
other party their intention of disregarding
the award; ard that, unless the Persian Gov
ernment appealed within a reasonable period,
His Majesty’s Government would consider the
award as final, and would take effective steps to
render it operative. The Amir has been in
formed of the line of action adopted by His
Majesty’s Government, and His Highness has
been assured that, if the Persian Government
appeal against the award, His Majesty’s
Government will give their decision on the
merits of the case without regard to any
considerations but those of equitable settle
ment in the interests of Afghanistan and Persia,
and of the equitable adjustment of the
difference between the two countries.
At the beginning of December, owing to
a shortage of water in the Helmand, and to
certain proceedings on the part of the Persians,
which included the demolition of the Lakshak
Band, the situation was critical, but later reports
state that the river is in heavy flood, which
on the 20th December carried away the Kohak
Band and caused considerable damage to land
in the vicinity of the village of Jazinak.
The Ehtisham-ul-Vezarah, the official
deputed by the Persian Government to enquire
into the alleged representations by the people
of Persian Seistan as to the unfairness to Persia
of the water award, arrived at Nasratabad on
the 6th December.
AFGHANISTAN.
Herat.—It is reported that Mulla Aziz
Khan has been placed in charge of the Herat
frontier. He has proceeded to Kushk, and it
is expected that he will be more successful
in his dealings with the Russian officials at
Sheikh Junaid and Panjdeh than his prede
cessors, as he is regarded as an exceptionallv
able official. ^ ^