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two Commissioners of Persia and Khelat, await on tlio frontier the reply to
tho referenco which they would . make to their Govern moots, try to remove
their objections, and, if lie failed, inform them (the Commissioners) that his
task was at au end, and that he would report the matter to his own Govern­
ment.
73. This reply ignored entirely tho Persian memoranda of 21th July and
2nd August. The Government of India, on the 4th of April, while communi­
• To General Goldsmid, No. 70OP., dated 4th cating tho instructions of the Secrotnry
April 1871, pftrAgrnph C. of State,* told General Goldsmid :___
“The instructions to furnish the Persian and Kliclal Commissioners with a written
statement of the decision, with tho facts, and arguments on which it is based, must not
bowover, be considered as absolute. Ilia Excellency in Council leaves it to your discretion
to show to their Commissioner any of your papers, or to withhold them as you may d_ _
com
best. When your labours are concluded, you should repair to Teheran with all the informa­
tion that you havo acquired, and there assist in effecting a final settlement in communication
with Mr. Alison aud tho Indian and Horae Governments.”
This last ordor was in conformity with Mirza Saeed’s memorandum of the
2nd August.
These instructions wore communicated to General Goldsmid by telegram
of the 5tb April.
(ii).—Proceedings of the Commissioners.
74. Genoral Goldsmid, accompanied by the Persian Commissioner, Mir
Maasum Khan, readied Bampur on the 28th January, and there learned of
the approach of the Klielat Commissioner with Major Ross and Captain
Harrison, and over 270 followers. He informed tho Persian Commissioner, and
proposed either to go forward to meet them before their arrival at Bampur
or else that the meeting should take place on the other, the eastern, side of tho
frontier. The opinion of the Persian Commissioner, however, was that as they
were so far on their journey, they should come on to Bampur. Nevertheless
just before their arrival, he objected to their coming so far
“ from the districts for investigation,”
stating that—
“the territory in Baluchistan, which is at present in possession of Persia, is not to come again
under discussion according to the basis of the former agreement between tho Persiau Minister
for Foreign Affairs and the British Legation ; and that the English Government should only
arbitrate on those places which Persia elaims as her own.”
Those places, he plainly stated, wore Kedj-Mekran, to which ho said that the
Persian Minister’9 messenger to Mr. Onglcy had expressly limited the enquiry.
He also objected to any attempt to commence the demarcation of the frontier
from its northern portion ? though believing that Commissioners had been
appointed to discuss the whole frontier between Persia and Khelat, General
Goldsmid then suggested that they should take for discussion the line of
frontier from the southern limit of the districts adjoining Jalk as far as the sea ;
but the Persian Commissioner expressed his inability, under his instructions, to
accept this proposal,
General Goldsmid also offered to discuss what might be considered—
"the Kedj-Mekran frontier, but on (he understanding that, after the Persian claims had been
prelerred, any counter-claim from Khelat should be admitted hearing also/7
This, too, was refused by tho Persian Commissioner. In the meantime, as the
presence of the Khelat Commissioner with his following, and the accompany­
ing British officers at Bampur was being construed into a source of complaint,
they left after a stay of 6ix days. It was altogether unfortunate that the
Khelat Commissioner should have been accompanied by so large a retinue,
even although the numbers did not exceed what is customary, for. it. gave
opportunities to the Persian Commissioner of putting fresh difficulties in the
way of an amicable adjustment of the boundary dispute. Government was not
made aware beforehand of tho number of the followers whom the Khelat
Commissioner intended to take with him, and with a view to avoid any possible
cause of offence ti Persia, it had already withheld sanction from n proposal