Historical Study of War

Historical Study of War

Analysis of the McMahon Arbitration Process on the Helmand Water: Based on Documents from the National Archives and Library of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Sayed Mahmoud Sadat 1
Mahmoud Sarkhanzadeh 2
Hamid Najar 2
1 Associate Professor of History Department, Imam Khomeini Research Institute and Islamic Revolution, Tehran, Iran
2 PhD student of Islamic Revolution History, Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution Research Institute, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/hsow.2026.2072918.1641
Abstract
McMahon's arbitration, in continuation of British colonial policies to establish Afghanistan as a buffer zone for India and competition with Russia, is a turning point in the history of Iran's claim to Helmand. This study, using a historical and descriptive-analytical method and with the aim of analyzing the process of McMahon's arbitration, attempts to answer the following questions: How and why did McMahon's arbitration reduce Iran's share of Helmand water? And what was the role of Britain and Russia in directing this arbitration and Iran's reaction to McMahon's decision? The findings show that, contrary to the legal appearance of the arbitration, McMahon's mission was of an informational-political nature and sought to establish British influence through mapping, examining water resources, understanding the social structure of Sistan, and analyzing strategic routes. Russia's active competition, from inciting public opinion to pressuring Iranian officials, was effective in rejecting the arbitration; but the structural weakness of the Qajar government, administrative corruption, and the lack of a unified strategy prevented Iran from defending its historical interests. The final vote, which allocated one-third of the water to Iran and two-thirds to Afghanistan, not only contradicted Goldsmith's vote, but also effectively paved the way for the consolidation of Afghan hegemony in subsequent negotiations and the sustainable reduction of Iran's share and the expansion of Afghan irrigation.
Keywords
McMahon's arbitration
Britain
Russia
Helmand
Qajar

Subjects

کتاب‌ها
-                     احتشام‌السلطنه (1366). خاطرات احتشام السلطنه، به کوشش سید محمد مهدی موسوی، تهران: زوار.
-                     اعتمادالسلطنه، محمد حسن خان (1356). روزنامه خاطرات اعتمادالسلطنه سالهای 1292 -1313هجری قمری. با مقدمه و فهارس ایرج افشار. تهران: امیرکبیر.
-                    اوژن،اوبن (1362).  ایران امروز، ترجمۀ علی اصغر سعیدی، تهران: زوار.
-                    بامداد، مهدی ( 1363). شرح حال رجال ایران، ج 2، تهران: انتشارات زوار.
-                    رایت، دنیس (1383). انگلیسیان در ایران، ترجمۀ غلامحسین صدری افشار، تهران: اختران.
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-                    ییت، چارلزادوارد (1365). خراسان و سیستان، ت‍رجم‍ۀ ق‍درت‌ال‍ل‍ه روش‍نی زع‍ف‍ران‍ل‍و و م‍ه‍رداد ره‍ب‍ری، تهران: یزدان.
اسناد
سازمان اسناد وکتابخانه ملی ایران (ساکما)
(ساکما، شمارۀ سند 2/1291/998.) ؛  ( ساکما، شمارۀ سند 4/1104-998)؛  (ساکما،  شمارۀ سند: 0127 002590 370) ؛ ( ساکما، شماره سند: 0175  002590 370)  ؛ ( ساکما، شماره سند: 0177  002590-370) ، ( ساکما، شماره سند: 0179  002590-370) ؛ ( ساکما، شمارۀ سند 5/1332/998) ؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 1/9841/998)؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 3/1332/998) ؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 5/1293/998)؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 3/1279/ 998)؛  (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 2/1293/998) ؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 4/1290/998)؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 5/1290/998) ؛  (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 4/1146/998) ؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 2/1293/998) ؛   (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 5/1280/998) ؛  (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 2/1279/998) ؛ (ساکما، شمارۀ سند 5/1293/998).
-                      Iran Political Diaries 1881-1965. (1997)Vol 2, )General Editor R. M. Burrell(, London: Archive Edition.
Bibliography
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Documents
National Library and Archives Organization of Iran (SACMA)
(Sakma, Document No. 2/1291/998.) ; (Sakma, Document No. 4/1104-998); (Sakma, Document No.: 0127 002590 370) ; (Sakma, Document No.: 0175 002590 370) ; (Sakma, Document No.: 0177 002590-370), (Sakma, Document No.: 0179 002590-370) ; (Sakma, Document No. 5/1332/998) ; (Sakma, Document No. 1/9841/998); (Sakma, Document No. 3/1332/998); (Sakma, Document No. 5/1293/998); (Sakma, Document No. 3/1279/998); (Sakma, Document No. 2/1293/998); (Sakma, Document No. 4/1290/998); (Sakma, Document No. 5/1290/998); (Sakma, Document No. 4/1146/998); (Sakma, Document No. 2/1293/998); (Sakma, Document No. 5/1280/998); (Sakma, Document No. 2/1279/998); (Sakma, Document No. 5/1293/998).
Iran Political Diaries 1881-1965. (1997)Vol 2, (General Editor R. M. Burrell), London: Archive Edition.