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‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [138v] (281/617)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
For convenience sake, though* I trust the whole memorandum will he
, considered, I will here quote the penulti-
Paragraph 2v. , i t • i A •
mate paragraph, which sums up my views
and proposals. It ran as follows :—
“ Persia is misgoverned and her condition is not satisfactory. Her finances
are in disorder, and her resources undeveloped, and she contains some elements
of disturbance, while there is no armed force upon which the Government can
depend for the maintenance of its authority. The influence of Russia, which
is antagonistic to our own, predominates at Tehran, and it is believed to be
exerted against the interests of the country.
“ On the other hand, Persia has practically no debt, and her natural
resources are great. Her internal condition is not hopeless, or such as to cause
immediate alarm. And the influence of Russia, th ugh predominant, is not
exclusive. Russia has still a strong position throughout the country, and
Russia, recognising her own weakness in Asia, seems unlikely for the pie'sent to
take any step in Persia which would seriously offend us.
“ The general situation, therefore, might be worse, but; it is not one with
which we can rest altogether satisfied.
“ It is not probable that Russia will combine with England in reorganising
the Persian administration and in developing her trade; and there is little help
to be got in this direction from other EurojDean nations, none of whom carry any
weight in Tehran.
c{ England by herself, especially if thwarted by Russia, cannot hope to
overcome the opposition of interested persons in high places, and to carry a
scheme of reform which shall regenerate Persia. She can hardly hope, indeed,
to carry any reform of radical importance, and must fall back upon her exist
ing policy, contenting herself with maintaining the integrity of Persia; watch
ing and checking Russian aggression; gaining the good-will, respect and
confidence of the Persian Government and people; developing trade; and
taking such opportunities as may occur of urging measures beneficial to the
country.
“ With a view to maintaining the integrity and independence of Persia,
it is desirable to make timely arrangements for securing a quiet succession on the
Shah’s death, and we should endeavour to strengthen our influence over the
heir-apparent by keeping_ an English with him, by improving the position of
our representative at Tabriz, and in other ways. TV e should let it be understood
that aggressive action by Russia in the north of Persia will immediately result
in decided action by us in the south.
In order to strengthen the friendly feelings entertained towards us in
many parts of the country, we should encourage picked officers to travel among
the Chiefs and people, and we should, as occasion offers, establish fresh agencies
at important points. We should try to obtain for the people such benefits as
a good currency.
“The Persian Government should be made to understand that they must
not trifle with us in the future, as they have occasionally done in the past;
but we should try to gain their good-will, and to help them in any way we can!
Just now there is an opportunity of putting them under a great obligation by
relieving them to some extent of the burden of the Regie Debt, which they
find very harassing. The Shah has begged us earnestly to help him in this
way, and has at the same time formally asked our advice as to the reforms
which should be made in his administration. I think we should give this advice
to the best of our power, and should clear off the Regie Debt by lending the
Persian Government half a million at 3 or J per cent on approved security
and on certain defined conditions. These conditions should include advantaoes
to our trade, such as the opening of the Upper Karun, and also a satisfactory
guarantee that the revenue and expenditure of tbe Persian Government shall
for the future, be made to balance. J
2
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 View the complete information for this record
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‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [138v] (281/617), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/350, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100072740554.0x000052> [accessed 25 August 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/350
- Title
- ‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’
- Pages
- front , back , spine, edge , head , tail, front-i, 2r:32v, 34r:62v, 64r:84r, 86r, 89r:93v, 96r:96v, 99v:100v, 101v:128v, 129v:149v, back-i, front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 152r:186v, 188r:189r, 190r:299v, 303r:304v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence