'1904-05. THE LORD CURZON. CORRESPONDENCE WITH SECRETARY OF STATE, MR. BALFOUR, LORD LANSDOWNE, SIR A. GODLEY, &c. COMMENCING FROM DECEMBER 1904.'

Content

This volume comprises printed copies of correspondence, dated 2 December 1904-2 November 1905, of Lord Curzon of Kedleston, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, primarily with: Arthur Balfour, Prime Minister; the Marquess of Lansdowne, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; St John Brodrick, Secretary of State for India; and Sir Arthur Godley, Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India. The letters were printed by the press of the Private Secretary to the Viceroy.

The beginning of the volume contains a detailed index of names, places and subjects (ff 5-13). This is followed by letters to Lord Curzon, numbered 1-57 (ff 16-77) and letters from Lord Curzon, numbered 1-53 (ff 81-165). Letters to Lord Curzon sometimes include enclosures which are printed in full. Enclosures in letters from Lord Curzon are not printed in full, only describing the sender, type of document (e.g. letter, extract of a newspaper) and the date.

Much of the correspondence covers subjects related to British India, including:

• The 1905 Partition of Bengal
• The Indian Army and military matters
• Financial and administrative matters
• Military and civil appointments
• Local affairs in various Provinces and Princely States
• Recommendations and awards of Honours of the United Kingdom to members of the British Indian Army and Government and to indigenous Indian rulers and dignitaries
• Construction and extension of railways
• Proposed amendments to the Government of India Act 1858
• Arrangements for a tour of British India by the Prince and Princess of Wales
• An earthquake in Punjab Province [in present-day Himachal Pradesh] on 4 April 1905
• Matters relating to the activities of the Viceroy of India.

Other subjects covered include:

• The Dane Mission to Afghanistan to negotiate a treaty with the Amir [Ḥabīballāh Khān]
• The aftermath of the Younghusband Expedition [British Expedition to Tibet], including negotiations for a treaty with China regarding Tibet
• The appointment of Sir Herbert Thirkell White as Lieutenant Governor of Burma [Myanmar]
• Matters relating to the Aden Protectorate
• British policy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , particularly in relation to the hoisting of flags on the Musandim [Musandam] Peninsula
• Reports of events involving Russia, including the Russian Revolution of 1905 and a decisive naval defeat by Japan [Battle of Tsushima].

Extent and format

1 volume (169 folios)

Arrangement

The letters are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of each of the two sections of the volume, which are divided by a folio of blue card. Each letter is numbered, and the index on folios 5-13 gives the numbers of the letters which correspond to each name, place or subject listed in the index.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 165; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

Pagination: the volume also contains two original pagination sequences.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

Mss Eur F111/164

History of this record

Date(s)

1906? (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Colonial administrationInternational relationsForeign policy

Places

AdenMusandim PeninsulaIndiaAfghanistanTibet

People & organisations

Viceroy and Governor-General of India in CouncilPrime MinisterSecretary of State for India, United KingdomSecretary of State for Foreign AffairsPermanent Under-Secretary of State for India

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'1904-05. THE LORD CURZON. CORRESPONDENCE WITH SECRETARY OF STATE, MR. BALFOUR, LORD LANSDOWNE, SIR A. GODLEY, &c. COMMENCING FROM DECEMBER 1904.', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/164, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x000325> [accessed 8 July 2026]

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