THE MIDDLE EAST

Evening Star, Issue 12623, 30 September 1905, Page 5

THE MIDDLE EAST

FIXING THE PERSIAN BOUNDARY. RUSSIAN AGENTS FLOGGED. Press Association—By 1 elegrapb—Copyright, liONDON. September 29. ■rhr> British Conunision who were npi.ointed in 1903, undeT the leadership of Colonel M*Mahon, to arrange a boundary dispato which had arisen between the Persian Seistan and the Afghan Seistan owing to a constant change in the bed of the River Helmaud, have completed their labors. The narrative of the mission is palpitating with interest. The Afghans were friendly and helpful, but, owing to the -strength of Russian influence, intrigue, and misrepresentation of the object of the mission, there was considerable delay through obstruction bv the Persian Seistan. At the outset riots weie organised, but failed, and the flogging of tlte ringleaders, including the. majority of the Russian agents, astonished and impressed the Persians. Tito work continued amid a series of perils and privations, caused by the heat and cold, the waterless, desert in the south, and marshes, inundations, and blizzards in lbs north. The native escort lost eight members through heat and thirst, four l>y drowning, three by frost, one by hydrophobia, and Uiirty-four by disease. Fortynine camels and 120 horses succumbed, forty-eight of the camels dying from hydrophobia, duo to a mad wolfs attack. Mad jackals- also abounded. The award, which has been accepted by both sides, overruled the Afghan claim; to tlie new and more westerly bed of the river Hclmand, thus confirming the Goldsmid line, which recognised tiie. old bed as the frontier, in accordance with, the Persian contention. The boundary fixed will continue, irrespective of changes in the course of the river. Misstatements regarding the award have appeared in the Persian newspapers.

Renter says that, thanks to Colonel M'Mahon's tact and determination, the Russian and British positions of influence in the Persian Sefetan have been reversed. The impartiality of the award 'has proved a blow to Russian prestige, and the Russian Consul has been withdrawn for failing to frustrate the mission.