Page 397 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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70. Consequently, on the 21th January, instructions wore issuod to
General Goldsmith By that time, Government had received copy of
Mr. Alison's despatch No. 43, dated 17th August, sending Mirza Saecd’a
memorandum of 2nd August, saying—
To SreroUrr of Stale, dated 25th January “That the meaning of the Shall in respect to the
18711 No. 1, paragraph 4. demarcation of tho frontier was that the Auglo-
Persian Commissioner should prepare a uiap on
the spot for the subsequent settlement of the boundary line."
In tho instructions to General Goldsmid it therefore was impossible to
tell him definitely whether tho settlement to be effected by the Commissioner
was or was not to bo considered as final.
Those instructions were conveyed in No. 1G9P., dated 24th January 1871,
and were as follows : —
“The Secretary of State has approved the suggestion that the boundary described in your
memorandum of 2Sth April 18G0, should form tho basis of your operations, with such deviation
as your personal inspection may show to bo desirable. Presuming that you will strike tho
boundary somewhere in the neighbourhood of Jalk, the lino proposed, if eventually adopted,
will reach the sea-immediately to the west of the Draboll Ilill in the centre of Uwutlur Hay,
and will leave outlie west Jalk, Dizzuk, Sir! iaz, Posh in and Bahu; and on the east Kohuk,
Punjgoor, Kcdj, Toomp, Nusscerahad and Mund. The main objeot to be attained is the
definition of the western boundary of Khclat ami its dependencies of K»*dj, &c., beyond which
it is not supposed that the Persians have valid claims. A very liberal view may, therefore,
be taken of Persian claims to the \ve6t of that line ; but deviations to tho eastward should
not be agreed to uuless they rest on substantial grouuds, such as Treaty possessions, the wishes
of the local Chiefs, or obvious advantage.
“ From Jalk northward the boundary shown in your memorandum is an imaginary lin®
drawn across the desert to Seistan. In respeot to any such Hue as you may suggest to your
fellow Commissioners, great caution will be requisite. The point where the prolongation of
the boundary joins the cultivated lands on the left bank of the Hidmund, will uaturally be
the point from which the Seistan boundary will start. On this subject I euclose for your
information copy of a despatch, No. 41, dated
S. I. of J 870, Nos. 321-25.
7th July 1870, addressed by the Government of
India to the Secretary of State. If the dotted line shown on your map as the suggested
boundary be prolonged, it will strike the Hclmund somewhere in the neighbourhood of
Buggutscr, or, at any rate, much further up the river than the highest point to which the
Persian Government have any pretensions. Very great caution, therefore, must be exercised,
and if any desert line be suggested at all, it should bo ruch that the Seistau boundaiy may
form the natural continuation of it. The most desirable course would bo to leave the desert
line undetermined till its other terminus on the Seistan side can be definitely settled. It can
really be of little importance which course the line takes between the termini; and probably
a straight line will meet the wishes of all parties. On this point Iiis Excellency in Council
will be glad if you will submit your views in a special Report.
“The Commission is a mixed one, consisting of yourself and the Commissioners from
Persia and Khclat. Majors Harrison aud Ross have no co-ordiuate authority. Their duty will
be to submit to you all the information they possess or can acquire regarding the boundary,
and to assist you, generally, in 6uch duties as you may see fit to entrust to them. When the
three Commissioners are unanimous, the boundary will bo defined in accordance with their
opinion. When they differ, the boundary will bo laid down in accordance with the views of
the majority.
“There appears to be some doubt whether, when the labours of the Commissioners are
completed, their settlement is to be considered final, or whether they are to proceed to Teheran,
where the question of the boundary will be decided in communication with Her Majesty's
Minister. On this point a further communication will be mado to you after reference to the
Secretary of State; it will probably reach you before th-.* work of demarcation is completed ”
71. And in despatch No. 1 (Secret), dated 25th January, Government
pointed out to tho Secretary of State the discrepancy between Mirza Saoed’s
memorandum, and Lord Clarendon’s instructions, founded on the Shah’s
autograph of 28th April, and communicated with tho despatch No. 67, dated
15th July 1S70. And the Secretary of State was asked whether a reply had
boon sent to Mr. Alison’s despatch of 17th August; and was told that it was
ia the opinion of the Government of India, essential that the question—which
function the Commissioners should fulfil, should be settled beforo tho work of
demarcation was finished.
72. To this the Secretary of State replied on the 3rd March (No.l, Secret)
saying that the same procedure should ho adopted as that prescribed in
paragraphs 12 aud 13 of General Goldsmid’s Seistan instructions, t e.t that
General Goldsmid, after coming to a decision, should communicate it to the