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occurred in Persian territory whore anarchy had prevailed for twelve months
and was directly duo to this state of things; that, moreover, the Persian Gov­
ernment have guaranteed the personal safety of Telegraph employes of the
Indo-Tolograph Department in Article 2 of the Anglo-Persian Telegraph
Convention of 1872, which was renewed on 3rd July 1887 and which provides :
*• that tho British employes of the Telegraph Department, being charged with public
dutiesi shall bo fvcrywh«re placed uuder the special protection of the local authorities who
shall furnish guards when necessary and otherwise assure their personal security."
[ Mr. Hnrdinge’s note to tho Mushir-ed-Dowleb, dated 10th March 1898.]
196. It could not he denied that tho Persian Government, however lax at
first, took aftor Mr. Graves’ murder
Ibid, No. 661.
unusually energetic measures to restore
order in tho Eastern provinces, and in view' of their great financial difficulties,
Sir Mortimer Durand thought it inadvisable to press too energetically the
olaim for compensation of £5,00o. Tho Persian Government considered the
claim oxcessive and were likely to repudiate all responsibility for the future
maintenance of Mr. Graves’ family (Sir Mortimer Durand to tho Poreign
Office, dated 1st June 1898).

(vii) Rewards to Persian Officers for services rendered in Mr. Graves’ mur der case,
1898-99.
197. In his letter, dated 18th October 1898, Sir Mortimer Durand,
oulogising tho work done both by the
Socrct E., Maj 1899, Noi. 142-169.
British and Persian officers in the pro­
ceedings connected with Mr. Graves* murder case, recommended that the
valuable services rendered by Mirza Ahmed Khan, the Darya Begi or
Admiral, who was in command of the Persian force at the Rapch, and General
Latfullah Beg, should be suitably acknowledged by the bestowal of an order or
presents. The Government of India preferred the latter and offered to meet
from tho Indian revenues a total charge not exceeding £*00, on that account
(despatch No. 47 (Sec.-Extl.), dated 16th March 1899). They submitted,
however, that the British Government should not bestow on any Persian
officer a mark of appreciation of his conduct in the case, unless or until
the Persian Government had discharged their obligations in the matter of
compensation.
198. Sir Mortimer Durand reported that, in spite of repeated applications,
he had failed to get any compensation for Mr. Graves* widow from tho Persian
Government. Their view of the case was that they had spent much money
and taken much trouble in getting the tribe punished. But if Her Majesty’s
Government insisted on payment, he had little doubts that the Persian Gov­
ernment would pay. There was at the time no reason to withhold payment of
the rewards, until the Persian Government had discharged their obligation.
The Darya Begi especially had acted very energetically and shown a most
friendly spirit. He was a rising man at Bushire, and it was desirable to Beoure
a continuance of his friendship.
199. The Government of India expressed as follows on this matter
(No. 182 (Sec.-Extl.) dated 28th Septem­
Secret E., October 1899, No*. 63-51.
ber 1899):—
" If it ie proposed to drop altogether the demand for payment of the indemnity to Mrs.
Graves, there seems, in our opinion, to be no leason why the rewards in question should not be
independently given. But we earnestly hope that this ccur>c may not commend itself to Her
Majesty'® Government, more especially in vif-w of Sir Mortimer Durand’s statement that,
‘if Her Majesty's Government in6i>t upon the payment of compensation, he has little doubt
that the Persian Government will pay.’ ’’
200. Her Majesty’s Government decided that the olaim for compensation
to Mrs. Graves should not be abandoned,
Secret E., April 1900, Noj. 83-43.
but that the issue of the rewards
should not await tho payment of the compensation. It. was accordingly decided
tospend £200 on purchase of a sword and a Lee-Metfo'd rifle (with 4,000
cartridges) for presentation to the Governor of Busl.irc and Lutfullah Khan
respectively. . From the demi-official correspondence in the collection noted in
the margin it would appear that it was vory unlikely that the claim for
compensation would be pressed very much.