A FRONTIER DISPUTE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 3

A FRONTIER DISPUTE.

THE McMAHON COMMISSION.

United Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—Copvright. Received 10.9 p.m., September 29th . m. • LONDON, September 29, The British • Commission which was appointed in 1903 under the leadership of Colonel McMahon to arrange the boundary disputes 'wnich had 'arisen between 1 the Persian Seistan and Afghan Seistan,- owing to the constantly changing bed of the riper Helmand, has completed its labours. The narrative of the mission is of palpitating interest.. The Afghan was 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 by the Persian Seistan. At the'outset tish riots were organised, but failed. Flogging the ringleaders, including the majority of Russian.agents, astonished and. impressed the Persians. The work of the mission was carried out amid a'' continual series of perils and privations—heat and cold,'waterless. desert, in the south; marshes, inundations and blizzards in the north. The Dative escort lost eight men by heat and thirst, four by drowning,' three by frost-, one by hydrophobia, 34 by disease, and 49 camels .and 120 horses, succumbed, 48 of the camels "dying from hydrophobia due to a mad wolf's attack. "Mad jackals also abounded. "

- The award, which has. been accepted by bath sides, overruled the Afghan claims to the new ana more westerly bed.of the Helmand, and, confirming the Goldsmid line, recognised 'the old bed as the frontier,- in accordance with the Persian contention, and the boundary was fixed to continue irrespective of changes in the river. Misstatements., regarding the - .award appeared in the Persian newspapers. Reuter says that.thanks to Colonel McMaKon's tact and determination," the Russian and British: positions of 'influence in the Seistari are reversed: The impartiality of the award has proved a blow to Bussian prestige, and her consul has withdrawn, after failing to frustrate the objects of the mission. .