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‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎55v] (115/617)

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The record is made up of 2 volumes (301 folios). It was created in 22 Jun 1896-3 Mar 1900. It was written in English. 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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2
A
tt- i a j ooant interest in the tract. Mr. Barnes has deferred specific
Kalat mpndations in regard to Nushki, until the Assistant 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. has
X”it C Id season in the district. He is inclined to think that the
P ! + c !fkLtnrv arrangement would be to induce the Khan to assign the
Strict to the British GoTernment on an annual quit-rent; but the Khan
is reluctant to entertain the idea. Bor the present, the Khan has agreed to
instruct his Naib to assist Mr. Webb-Ware in every way possible and to send
I few of his irregular soldiers to Nushki to support the JSaib J s authority.
Mr Barnes proposed to wait and see how these arrangements worked during
the*present cold weather. When fuller information has been gained, it may,
perhaps, be possible to come to a satisfactory understanding with the Khan.
5. Mr. Wehh-Ware was only able to devote a limited amount of attention
to the revenue possibilities in Chageh and the Western Sinjerani country.
Mr. Barnes says it is too soon yet to judge whether there is much prospect
of an increase of population or cultivation, or whether it is worth while
to attempt to levy a light revenue. Mr. Webb-Ware is visiting Chageh and
its neighbourhood this winter, and will try and frame an estimate of what it
might be possible to collect. Pending the result of these enquiries, Mr. Barnes
suggests that orders should be deferred. The Government of India agree that
this°question should be held over until more information has been obtained as
to whether there is a reasonable probability that the revenue forthcoming would
cover the cost of collection. A further report will be awaited, and meanwhile
the proposal to appoint a Native Assistant to the Political Officer must also be
held in abeyance. Should it be hereafter necessary to revive the proposal to
appoint a Native Assistant, I am to suggest that it might be feasible to provide
funds for the appointment and for any small establishment necessary for the
*r s . 2 , 000 . Assistant from the existing allotments*
” 1 ’ 600 - for establishments and contingencies. It
is not understood why it was proposed that the Native Assistant should have
more than one munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. , or why he should require any peons, when levies
would probably be available for such duties as peons ordinarily fulfil.
6. Mr. Barnes has furnished a statement showing how the annual grant
of 19,200 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. for levy service is distributed, and he is of opinion that this
amount must be increased if the safety of the road is to be assured. It is
pointed out that the distances between the present thanas are great, that the
risk of raids from Damanis and other Perso-Baluch tribes makes it necessary
to strengthen the posts between Amir Chah and Koh-i-Malik Siah, and
chat posts, on the existing scale, are not strong enough to enable regular postal
communication to be kept up between Koh-i-Malik Siah and Nushki. Mv
e egram No. 5390-P., dated the 28th December 1897, authorized the provi-
sanTtionelf aTi ° f ^ P Q°n tal S0WarS ’ wll0se ente rtainment was temporarily
Sumeon MaW Rva 4 - 01 P 30ru . pe f a - mouth ’ to kee P U P communication with
rgeon-Major Brazier-Creagh during his deputation to Seistan. I am now
am C furthe rtn s 10n f - to retention of tllis establishment during 1898-99. I
lories aU cost of C 3] l 0 n rnn e entei ' ta f n , ment the same period of additional
310 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a month, as recommended by Mr. Barnes. A copy
No. 44, dated the 4th September 1897 . ^ ^ letter f from Her Majesty*s Charge
tude of the Persian Government in at an > re g ardill g the atti-
disturb the trade route, is enclosed foi ^ ^ Wh0
and 1,500 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. G for^ett^mrblio 11 ^ 1 h ^ °f 35500 ru P ees for tour expenses,
digging of wells, etc/ These gLnts th f 0 ^ ildin g of posts, the
expenditure against them £ a 6 san . ctl0ned ; hut I am to suggest that
should, as far as possible be uostnn T § rant additional levies,
on the experiences of the nrp«A f 116 untd lieutenant Webb-Ware’s report
rnent of India. P Sent seasou has been considered by the Govern-
and provision has been made irftha f°'i sanc ^ oned amounts to 13,880 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ,
mgly. The Governor-G^neral in rn^^ ° f the Bal ^histan Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. accord,
request that the expenditure shonlrn^AH 8 Unable to Mr. Barnes’s
Revenues. An examination of V- assi g nmen t from Imperial
Special Revenues are well able to hearth l 1Stari estlmates shows that the

About this item

Content

The volumes contain papers relating to Persia [Iran], including Seistan, and the tract of land south of the Baluch-Afghan boundary between Nushki and Persia, which had become British territory following the demarcation of the Afghan-Baluch border.

The papers largely consist of printed copies of correspondence between the Governor General of India in Council (Government of India Foreign Department) and the Secretary of State for India (Lord George Francis Hamilton), and enclosed correspondence and papers.

Letters from the Governor General of India in Council to the Secretary of State for India include:

  • Number 170, 16 September 1896, relating to the opening up of a trade route between Nushki and the Persian frontier, crossing the tract of British territory south of the Baluch-Afghan boundary, and the protection of the newly-demarcated frontier, with enclosed memorandum by Captain Arthur Henry McMahon, British Commissioner, Baluch-Afghan Boundary Commission, containing his proposals for the management and administration of the tract and for the protection of the trade route
  • Number 58, 31 March 1898, concerning the trade route between Baluchistan and Persia, including the suggestion that Consular Agents should be appointed at central points along it between Seistan and Meshed, with enclosures including a report by Lieutenant Frank Webb-Ware, Political Assistant at Chagai, on his visit to Seistan at the beginning of 1896, and the measures introduced for the development of trade between Baluchistan and Persia (which includes a blueprint map, Mss Eur F111/350, f 33)
  • Number 163, 15 September 1898, forwarding copies of papers regarding the situation in Makran and Panjgur, following recent ‘disturbances’ in Makran.

The file also includes:

  • Copies of Government of India Foreign Department papers numbered 40-58 relating to the Kerman Consulate and British interests in Southern Persia, including correspondence between the Government of India Foreign Department and the Secretary of State for India
  • A letter from the Secretary of State for India to the Governor General of India in Council, with enclosed despatch from Sir (Henry) Mortimer Durand, HM Minister at Tehran, to the Foreign Office, dated 12 February 1899, in which he gives his opinion on suggestions for the appointment of additional consular officers in Persia (this includes a map titled ‘Skeleton Map of Telegraph Lines in Persia.’ Mss Eur F111/350, f 187)
  • A letter from Durand to the Secretary to the Foreign Department of the Government of India, 24 February 1899, enclosing a copy of his memorandum (with appendices) drawn up in 1895 on the situation in Persia, and the steps he proposed should be taken to improve the British position there
  • Copies of a draft despatch from the Governor General of India in Council, 2 September 1899, regarding relations between Great Britain and Persia, including improving the British Political and Consular service in Persia, and the extent of the share of responsibility for Persia that should be devolved upon the Government of India, followed by printed comments upon the draft
  • Copies of a minute by George Nathaniel Curzon, Viceroy of India, on Seistan, dated 4 September 1899, including the question of a railway connection between India and Seistan
  • Handwritten pencil notes by Curzon relating to Persia and the ‘Seistan Question’.

In addition to the two maps noted above, the file also includes the following maps: map of the area south of the border between Afghanistan and Baluchistan (Mss Eur F111/350, f 300); map of the area west of the border between Persia and Afghanistan (Mss Eur F111/350, f 301); and ‘Route Plan of Robat Nala’ (Mss Eur F111/350, f 302).

Extent and format
2 volumes (301 folios)
Arrangement

Most of volume A is arranged in reverse chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume (from folios 6 to 76); volume B is arranged is rough chronological order from the front to the rear of the volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover of volume one (ff 1-150) and terminates at the inside back cover of volume two (ff 151-304); 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 in Latin script
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‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎55v] (115/617), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/350, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100072740552.0x000074> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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