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Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎80r] (159/678)

The record is made up of 1 file (337 folios). It was created in 4 Aug 1895-21 Nov 1903. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the 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. .

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Printed for the use of the Foreign Office, December 2, 1902.
[SFCFFT.]
THE PERSIAN QUESTION.
A Conference was held at the Foreign Office on Wednesday, the 19th November, 1902 to
discuss certain questions relating to Persia, and to consider the papers laid before it.
The Representatives of the various Departments present at it were the following
A dmiralty—
Prince Louis of Battenberg (Director of Naval Intelligence).
Captain Armstrong, k. m. l. x.
Foreign Office—
Sir T. Sanderson.
India Office—
Sir A. Godley.
Sir W. Lee-Warner.
War Office—
Lieutenant-General Sir W. Nicholson (Director-General of Military Intel
ligence) . J
Lieutenant-Colonel Altham.
The papers, which had been circulated to the Members of the Conference, includino- Memo
randa from the War Office and the Admiralty, were taken as read.
1. The first question discussed was the following :—
“ action, if any, should be taken in respect of Persia by Great Britain, in the event
of war between Great Britain and Russia—it being assumed that in such a war Russia might
have the support of France, but that Great Britain could not count on that of any European
Power.'” J 1
Sir W. Nicholson stated that the military forces available at the outset in the contino-ency
referred to would be three Army Corps, and that the necessary reinforcements of the Indian
army for the defence of India would practically absorb the whole of this force. No troops
would, therefore, be available for operations in Persia. The attitude of Afghanistan was
uncertain. Persia was not in a position to offer any resistance to the use of her territory in
the north as. a route for a Russian advance. The distance to be traversed and the difficult
nature of the intervening country rendered it unlikely that any effective attack could be
organized against the flank of the Russian advance by means of the tribes round Mohammerah
and in other parts of Southern Persia.
As regards naval, considerations, Prince Louis of Battenberg stated that no naval base
or station was required in the Gulf, and that a Russian naval station there would not be formid
able unless fortified, and, above all, with its communications by land fully established. He
also stated that the Admiralty view was fully set forth in the Memorandum dated November
In these circumstances, it was held that, in the event of war, our action in the direction
of Persia should be limited, to (1) the occupation of Seistan, or to holding a force ready for
the purpose within striking distance j (2) the seizure and occupation by Indian troops of
Bandar Abbas, with the adjoining Islands of Kishm, Hanjam, and Ormuz- (3) the exclusion
of any foreign Power from the Isthmus of Maklab to Mosandim Point and along the El
Batineh coast between Khor Khalba and Dibba, as far as circumstances would admit; and (4)
the protection of Biitish subjects and trades at Bushire, so long as no serious operations on
land were required at that port. The visits of British ships to other islands and ports in the
Gulf would otherwise suffice to maintain our influence there as far as circumstances would
allow.
2. The second question propounded was :—
“ What action would it be expedient that Great Britain should take in the event of
disorders occurring in Persia, and occasioning a Russian occupation in the north or in
anticipation of such disorder—it being understood that occupation by Great Britain of Persian
territory would not be directed against Russia, but would be undertaken in the interests
of peace and order, and as an assertion of the position of Great Britain as jointly interested
with Russia in the maintenance of the Persian kingdom,”

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Content

The file contains papers relating to Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including a document entitled ‘Notes on current topics prepared for reference during his Excellency the Viceroy’s tour in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , November 1903.’ It also includes printed extracts of letters relating to the tour from Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Arnold Kemball, Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Major Percy Zachariah Cox, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Maskat [Muscat], dated August to October 1903.

In addition, the file includes the following papers:

  • Handwritten notes by George Nathaniel Curzon, Viceroy of India, including notes on Muscat, Koweit [Kuwait], and the Mekran [Makran] Coast
  • Memoranda concerning Koweit
  • A copy of a letter from Colonel Charles Edward Yate, Agent to the Governor-General and Chief Commissioner in Baluchistan, to the Secretary to the Government of India Foreign Department, forwarding the camp diary kept during his tour in Makran and Las Bela, from 1 December 1901 to 25 January 1902
  • A copy of a 'Report on a Journey from India to the Mediterranean via the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Baghdad and the Euphrates Valley, including a Visit to the Turkish Dependency of El Hasa' by Captain J A Douglas, Staff Captain, Intelligence Branch, Quarter Master General’s Department in India, 1897 (which includes three sketch maps: Mss Eur F111/358, f 138; Mss Eur F111/358, f 158; and Mss Eur F111/358, f 141).

Folios 232 to 338 largely consist of printed copies of correspondence between Sir (Henry) Mortimer Durand, HM Minister at Teheran [Tehran], and the Marquess of Salisbury (Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil), Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, dated 1895-1896, relating to Persia.

The file includes a copy of a Collective Letter addressed by the Turkish, British and French Consuls to the Valiahd regarding the Tabriz Riots, 5 August 1895, which is in French (folios 332).

Extent and format
1 file (337 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in roughly chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 339; 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.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎80r] (159/678), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/358, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100069731504.0x0000a0> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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