‘1904. THE LORD CURZON. TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA.’

Content

This volume consists of printed copies of telegraphic correspondence, dated 1 January to 11 December 1904. The correspondence is between: Lord Curzon of Kedleston, Viceroy and Governor-General of India, and (William) St John Fremantle Brodrick, Secretary of State for India, from 1 January to 30 April 1904; and between Brodrick and Lord Ampthill as acting Viceroy from 30 April to 11 December 1904.

The start of the volume includes a detailed index of names, places and subjects (ff 3-12). This is followed by telegrams from Brodrick to Curzon (ff 13-39) and then Ampthill (ff 40-75), numbered 1-406, and telegrams from Curzon (ff 77-127) and then Ampthill (ff 128-200) to Hamilton, numbered 1-592.

A wide variety of subjects are covered, including matters relating to the following:

• The Aden Protectorate, in particular the delimitation of Aden
• Afghanistan, notably Russian movements on the Afghan frontier, and correspondence between the Amir [Amīr Ḥabībullāh Khān] and the Viceroy
• Army matters, including reinforcements for India
• Bahrein [Bahrain] affairs
• The wreck of the steamship Baron Inverdale
• The Burma [or Myanmar]-Chinese frontier
• The appointment of Curzon as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
• The proposed appointment of Mr J Cogswell as Controller of Stationery and Printing
• Henry Robert Conway Dobbs, in particular the question of his withdrawal from the Herat frontier, and his visit to the Amir of Afghanistan
• The state of affairs on the Herat frontier
• Calcutta [Kolkata] High Court appointments
• Persia [Iran], notably consular guards for Persia, and a British loan to Persia
• The Indian Police Commission
• Russian military activities in Central Asia
• Indian Army involvement in the Russo-Japanese War
• Seistan [Sistan], including the telegraph line to Seistan, and demarcation of the Seistan boundary
• The Tibet Mission [the Younghusband expedition], including fighting and casualties at Guru, the attitude of Tibetans towards the Mission, reinforcements for the Mission, treaty negotiations between Great Britain and Tibet, and the occupation of the Chumbi Valley
• The Convention between Great Britain and Tibet, the indemnity to be paid by Tibet, the Adhesion Agreement, Chinese suzerainty over Tibet, the Tibet Blue Book, and other issues concerning Tibet.

Extent and format

1 volume (202 folios)

Arrangement

The telegrams 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 paper. Each telegram is numbered, and the index on folios 3-12 gives the numbers of the telegrams 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 200; 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 printed 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 F111/174

History of this record

Date(s)

1905? (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Younghusband Mission, Tibet (1903-1904)Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)Foreign policyInternational relationsDiplomacyArmyFrontiersBoundariesConventions

Places

AdenPersiaIndiaAfghanistanBahreinTibetBurma

People & organisations

Indian Police CommissionViceroy and Governor-General of India in CouncilSecretary of State for India, United KingdomKing of Afghanistan

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‘1904. THE LORD CURZON. TELEGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA.’, British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/174, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x00032d> [accessed 20 July 2026]

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