SEISTAN COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1572, 30 September 1905, Page 2

SEISTAN COMMISSION

NARRATIVE OF PALPITATING INTEREST. RUSSIAN INTRIGUES. AWARD ACCEPTED BY BOTH BIDES.

By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyright Received 10.9 p.m., SBpt 29. London, Sept 29. _ The British Commission appointed in 1903, under tho leadership of Colonel MoMahon, to arrange tho boundary disputes which had arisen between the Persian seistan and the Afghan eeistan, owiog to the constantly changing bed of the river Halmand, havo completed their 'labors.

The narrative of the mission is of palpitating interest. The Afghans wore friendly and helpful, but owing to the strength of Russian influence and intrigue in misrepresenting the object of the mission there was considerable delay and obstruction in the Persian seistan at the outset. AntiBritish riots wero organised, but failed. The flogging of tho ringleaders, including a majority of tho Russian agents, astonished and impressed the Persians. The work was continued in a seriec. of perils and privations—heat and cold and a waterless desert in tho south; marshes, inundations, and blizzards in the north:

Tho native escort lost eight by heat end thirst, four by drowning, three by frost, one by hydrophobia, and 84 by disease. Forty-nine camels and 120 horses succumbed. Forty-eight oamels had hydrophobia, due to a mad wolf’B attack. Mad jackals abounded.

The award was accepted by both sides. It over-ruled the Afghan claim to a new and more westerly bed of the Halmand, confirming the Goldsmid line, and reoognised the old bed as the frontier in accordance with the Persian contention. The boundary was fixed to continue irrespective of changes in the river. Mis-statements regarding the award appeared in Persian newspapers. | Reuter says that thanks to Colonel Mo- | Mahon’s taot and determination the Russian and British positions of influence in the seistan have been reversed. The impartiality of the award proved a blow to Russian prestige. The Consul has withdrawn, failing to frustrate the mission.