Page 401 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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others, the sovereignty of which i^ uncertain, whioh &ro claimed by both parties, but which,
in the opinion of General Goldsmid, are in u position of virtual iiulepcudcnoc. With rogard
to such of these tracts as lie to the west of tho line which, from the iuformation ho has pro­
cured, General Goldsmid is disposed to regard as the fairest bouudary to he laid down between
Persia and Khelat, if the Shah's Government advances serious pretonsions to them, it might,
in tho opinion of the Uovcrnor-Gcnoral in Council, be allowed to deal with them as it pleases,
Khelat being thereby deprived of nothing which is in her undoubted possession. But tha
Government of India would most seriously deprecate any concession of Persian claims to
territory cast of that line, except on production by Persia of the clearest evidence of right.
Tho main object to bo aimed at i< the demarcation of such a definite boundary marked by
natural features as will satisfy the just claims and reasonable expectations of both parties,
and best accord with tho prosent state of possession. Prom the information before him, Hit
Excellency in Council is of opinion that there are good reasons for considering the boundary
6kctchod in General Goldsmid's lotler No. 73, of 1st April (a copy of which ho has been
instructed to lay before you), to bo fair and suitable, and if, by the exercise of your influence
with the Shah's Government, Your Kxcelleucy can procure the acknowledgment of that line,
you will render an essential service to the interests of Iler Majesty's Indian Empire, and
effectually removo the cause of those apprehensions and actual disturbances, which have of late
so seriously interfered with the prosperity of Mckran."
Those letters to General Goldsmid and Mr. Alison were communicated to
the Secretary of State in No. 2c, dated 10th May 1S71.
(iii).-Tlic Persian Government accepts the lino of boundary sketched by Gcueral
Goldsmid. Question about Koliuk.
85. In tlie execution of the instructions quoted above, General Goldsmid
after visiting Kurrachi for the purpose of collecting further information as to
the right of Khelat in tho disputed tracts, betook himself to Tohcrau, and,
when there, was obliged to await tho arrival of the Persian Commissioner.
There then followed a few meetings betweon the Commissioners, in the pre­
sence of tho Persian Ministor for Foreign AlFairs, and between the latter and
Mr. Alison, during which no advance was made towards a decision.
86 On the 3rd August, Mr. Alison in consequence of a telegram from
tho Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (the result of an expressiou of
opinion on the part of the Government of India as to the extreme desirability
of a speedy settlement of the question), addressed a memorandum to the
Persian Minister, urging attention to the matter. !
S7. General Goldsmid was then, on the 6th August, admitted to a personal
• S*o cnclosuro No. 15 of the despatch No. 187, audieuce* with the Shall, during which
.
dated 3ist October 1871. fr-m .'lie Uoverumoiit of lie answered a few unimportant questions
India to tho Secrotary of State. regarding his mission, and ou the follow-
t This memorandum is to lo found in onclosure ing day sent for the Shah’s information a
No. 14 of tho obovo mentioned dcpat.h. memorandum! in Persian, embracing
the information which he had collected on the spot, with a copy of the map
prepared by Captain Lovett, showing the boundary of the existing possessions
of Persia. On tho 13th August the Shah announced his decision, abandoning
Kedj and Gwadur, but including in Persia Kohuk and certain tracts comprised
within the windings of the Duslit River. General Goldsmid represented the
disturbance to oxisting possession on the part of Khelat which such a demarca­
tion would cause, and after some further interviews with the Persian Commis­
sioner and the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs was, on the 20th August,
JSee enclosure No. 18 of tho aboTo-mcniioned grauted another audience | by tlie Shah,
dvfcp&tch. -who seemed as little as ever disposed to
acoept the line of boundary indicated by General Goldsmid, but, in addressing
his Minister,—
" said something of accepting General Goldsmid’s line, provided Her Majesty's Government
would make a certain guarantee that the arrangement solely affected the Khan of Khelat and
his descendants, his power being declared that of an independent sovereign."
After leaving the Shah, General Goldsmid discussed this expression for
aome time with the Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Persian Commis­
sioner, and the King’s Aidc-de-Camp :—
“ ‘ The Khan of Khelat was to be considered as an independent sovereign, and England
was to guarantee that this deputed country was to be his and that of his descendants. In
the event of a revolution sho would bo responsible as to his successor.* Such, General Gold-
srnid said, was the substance of a somewhat vague proposal to be put forward in case we ■
refuted any deviation from our mapped line of frontier in favour of Persian chums or