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instructions in this *enso to Mr. Alison, who, on the 7th October 1871, replied
that tho Porsian Foreign Office had sent to say—
u that tho only object in communicating the charges was to make this mission cognizant of
_ . , , , tho reports in circulation; that the Portion
Enelniur* No. 17 in despatch No. 8. dated (jovcn„nent entertained a high logaul for Gotland
.............
80. The proceedings of the Persian Commissioner, marked as they were
by evasion, vacillation, and a total disregard of accuracy of statement, rendered
it nocossary that the Government of India should consider what course General
Goldsmid should now take. Seeing that all the efforts of General Goldsmid to
remove tho objections of tho Persian Commissioner failed of success, the
Govornmout of India might, under the circumstances, have directod him, in
aonordnnee with tho instructions conveyed in the Duke of Argyll's Secret
despatch No. 1, of 3rd March 1871, to inform the Persian Commissioner, for
communication to his Government, that his labors were at an end, and that it
only romained for him (Goneral Goldsmid) to communicate the results to his
Government, and to await their further instructions. But iu view of the
paramount importance of allowing no further delay to occur in tho sottlemont
of some dofinite boundary of the Persian possessions to the eastward, the
Government of India deemed it preferable that General Goldsmid should
continue to oollcct all available information on the subject, and then proceed
to Teheran for the adjustment of tho question, in the manner which the
Persian Govornment had themselvos proposed.
81. Consequently, as General Goldsmid had completed the collection of
the information bearing upon the prosent state of possession of Persia and
Khelat in Mekran, as far as the means at his disposal admitted, ho was by
No. 903 P., dated 16th May 1871, requested to proceed to Teheran as soon as
possible; was given copies of the Shah’s autograph letter of 14th April 1870,
and of Mirza Saeed Khan’s memoranda of 2ltli July and 2nd August, and was
dosired to lay before Her Majesty’s Minister at Teheran, the map prepared by
Captain Lovett under his instruct ions, and the information he had collected,
with the object of enabling Mr. Alison to settle thoir eastern boundary, in
accordance with tho proposals made by the Persian Government in the above-
mentioned documents.
82. In his letter No. 73, dated 1st April, General Goldsmid had sent a
memorandum sketching the lino of boundary which would, lie thought, defiue
the existing eastern possessions of Persia. The gist of the momoraudum was as
follows:—
“The territories of Khelat now extend to the westward up to the borders of the Dizzuk
.. ,, , , District.* Kohuk is claimed by Khelat, and
evidence rf.ltap.nc. brought forward in the
one which the Pereian Commi<«ioner declined to Peri?Ou of Mir Mirud Noushirwani, the hereditary
ditcou at Bampur. Were I arbitrator, instead of Chief. Meanwhile, it should be acknowledged
a Joint Commisiioner, <u now informed, I should as a tract of country paying no real tribute, the
include Kohuk, at Mund, within tho Khelat sovereignty of which is under enquiry, everything
led.,,, although paring uo -»1 tribute. on sjdo appcrtaiuiUg to Khelat.
“ Below Kohuk the District of Punjgur is possessed by Khelat,f including Parum, and
up to the Bumpusht border, and Zamiran. Mund
t Her. m’ght be added, if thought clearer : and and Dusht aTC border districts of the Khelat
side; and . lino through the Busht Di^rict.
passing across the Drabol Hill, between the luvers
Baho and Dusht, marki the actual boundary to the sea at Gwcltur Bay."
83. The Government of India considered that the reasons advanced by
him sufficiently established this as a fair and suitable boundary, and said—
11 It will be a matter of much satisfaction to His Excellency in Council if the Persian
Government agrees to regard it in the same light."
Prom Foreign Secretary, to Major-General
GfZidFmiJrsectrarv24tioJMU?rjn , 84. And on tho same date (16th May)
Goldtmid,No.700P..datrd4thApril!J°r °nCri a letter was addressed to Mr. Alison,
Viceroy to Secretary of state, dated icth sending copies of tho papers mentioned in
From Secretary of St ite, to Viceroy, dated 21«t margin, and Saying""
Jauuary 1871.
“ Your Excellency will doubtless learn from General Goldsmid that, besides the tracts on
this border, as to the preseut posaeseion of which there can bo no reasonable doubt, there are