![‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎251r] (509/617)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003ba/Mss Eur F111_350_0519.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎251r] (509/617)")
‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [251r] (509/617)
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.
! ■
have a1 s° recentJy been heard of at the latter place (the two latest \r i ■+
chielf and Baron de Schedenore, a S lately as August in the piesent ye^ t
should not, moreover he forgotten that it was Russian opposition that in 1898
hrolce down the loan to the Persian Government from the Imperial Bank of
Persia, the security ot which was to be the customs of the southern norts to
be collected by agents of the Bank. 61 n P orts ’
39 * , aw f e ih *\ «n April 18tli of the present year, with reference
to reports that have been published of Bussian designs upon the island of Kishm
adjoining Hormuz, Count Mouravieff assured Sir C. Scott, Her MaiestvN
Ambassador at St. Petersbnrgh, that “there was absolutely no intention on the
Russian Government to add to the burden of their existing resnon
sibilities by acquiring outlying ports or stations which would require naval
defence m time _ of war ” ; and we do not doubt that this emphatic assurance
represents the views sincerely entertained by the Emperor of Russia. But
our faith m the value of this assurance has been somewhat shaken by the later
information received from a Persian official of high rank and station, known
personally to the Viceroy, to the effect that he believes Russia to have acquired
certain rights m regard to a port in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, which however it may
not suit her at once to enforce. Moreover there is in practice a limit to the
duration of all such pledges, which, even if given by the sovereign, are not
always regarded as binding by his officials; and previous experience is not
altogether encouraging to the belief in a prolonged existence of the present
undertaking, should circumstances compel an opposite course. There are more
over other means, well-known to Her Majesty’s Government from recent
experience in other parts of the world, of obtaining political and territorial
influence, independently of the actual acquisition of harbours or stations.
40. It is, in onr opinion, more than a coincidence that simultaneously
with the increasing Russian interest in Central and Southern Persia which we
have described, there should also have been a notable revival of Erench activity
in those quarters. In 1896 the Messageries Maritimes Company commenced
a subsidised service from Bombay to the ports of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
; although,
owing to vessels of unsuitable draught having been employed, the enterprise
was not a success and was shortly abandoned. In 1897 a Erench Vice-Consul
(M. Eerrand) was for the first time appointed at Bushire, although the value of
Erench trade with the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
in that year amounted only to the modest
total of £82,618 (of which £73,899 was sugar). He was succeeded in 1898 by M.
Bryois, who recently informed the agent of one of the British Trading Companies
at Bushire that the Erench Government intended shortly to establish a subsidised
line of steamers to Mohammerah and the Karun. It was perhaps in connection
with this project that in March 1899, M. Bryois paid a visit to the Karun, where
a Erench scientific party, under M. de Morgan, has for some time been engaged
in politico-archaeological researches in Arabistan- Mhen the 1 rench Chaige
d’Affaires, Comte d’Arlot, recently visited Ispahan, the Zibes-Sultan vouch
safed the corroborative information to the B ritish Legation that the object of these
movements on the part of the Erench was to obtain a footing at Mohammerah
Shnshter and Dizful. Luring our recent negotiations with the Sheikh ol Koweit
about the future of that harbour, it was with some surprise that we learned from
him that the Erench had already approached him on the subject. In Bahrein a
so-called French merchant, M. Goguyer, who until recently was engaged m Maskat
in an attempt to revive the traffic in arms under the Irench flag, has been
reported as endeavouring to induce the inhabitants to purchase French protec
tion bv the payment of small sums. In 1899 a French Consular
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
was
established at Lingah, where the ^me “pmous system o^ manufactunn
Erench subjects (for the most successful illustration of which we must look
SiTm) was started, and where the French flag was hmsted by ^
the Erench Vice-Consul at Bushire. Emally, Her Majesty s Governmem are
“aware than ourselves of the recent negotiations f a French lof to the
Persian Government upon the security of the customs of the bull ports, and
promise of a railway monopoly in that coun ly.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [251r] (509/617), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/350, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x00006e> [accessed 10 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x00006e
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x00006e">‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎251r] (509/617)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x00006e"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003ba/Mss Eur F111_350_0519.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003ba/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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