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‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [261v] (530/617)
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.
thoudi we expect to place our currency on a sound basis, and thereby to quicken the develop
ment of India's resources, the effect of this reform will not show itself in our revenue for some
time to come.
However looking to the masterly analysis of Imperial and Indian interests in Persia in
this draft, to the striking disproportion between the Imperial and Indian contributions in Persia
and
Turkish Arabia
A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
now revealed, and to the fact that our demand for a revision of this expendi
ture is likely to be powerfully supported by Lord Welby's Commission, it is not improbable
that the policy now advocated will result in some immediate saving to India.
In connection with the question of revision, it is important to determine what principle
shall govern the division of financial responsibility between the Imperial and Indian Exchequers.
Two alternative principles are proposed—
(1) The whole cost of diplomatic, consular, naval, telegraphic and other charges in
Persia and
Turkish Arabia
A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
might be divided in some fixed proportion.
(2) The Imperial and Indian Governments might, respectively, accept responsibility for
those areas in which Imperial or Indian interests predominate, with a joint contri
bution towards the central (Tehran) establishment.
There are arguments on either side; but I incline to the latter arrangement, if it can be
carried out.
My reasons are that, if India were responsible for the Indian area—which would, I take
include Seistan-
I quite agree with Mr. Dawkins’s preference, and aho
with iiis reasons for arriving at it. 1 would add another,
viz, that the second arrangement is far more likely to be
accepted by the Home Government than the first. I am
willing to add a paragraph as suggested. On the other
hand, it must be remembered thut under the second
plan India will certainly have to pay more (and pro
bably in an increasing ratio) than under the first.
(Quezon].
emergency, we anticipated London, we should
it, include beistan—any action to be taken
could be taken more quickly and more quietly.
That is chiefly a political reason, though there
is much to be said for having our contribution
entirely within our control. And, financially,
references to London for increasing any part of
a total contribution divided in fixed proportions
would be troublesome. Moreover, if, in an
very likely find it difficult to get the Home
Government to accept any responsibility for the amount expended in anticipation.
draft.
Possibly some argument in this direction could be introduced into paragraph 69 of the
I may illustrate my contention by a reference to such expenditure as the Quetta-Seistan
route may entail. Such expenditure must,' I think, grow in a tentative and gradual manner
and by small amounts at a time.
I had hoped to be able to append to this note some remarks on the figures given in the
draft of the Imperial and Indian shares of the existing expenditure. These figures are bein"
checked and examined in the Finance Department, but I regret that the process is not yet
finished, and I did not like to delay this note further.
If 1 have any remarks to make, I will submit them separately,
touch the principles laid down in the draft.
They will not, in any case.
* I do not think that a note will be required. With the
assistance of my Military Colleagues, I can explain the
matter in Council.
C[uezon].
C. E. D[awkins],—7-9-99.
I quite concur in the policy outlined, and have no criticism to offer on the details.
I should* like to have some further information on the military part of the question : say,
i" ~ ’ • ' —- a n °te showing the bases from which, and the
lines along which, we can move troops towards
the Persian frontier. Perhaps the Military
Members of Council can explain this part of
the case.
« r ?osah wa ? tha .‘-
the important work of strengthening opposition towaris PerskinTtKuff” 1 * 1 ° ^ “
T. K[aleigh], —7-9-99.
despaS;! 7ega\t I th h e a Q u et 1 T.tlt! ,a , t , l 6n& f^ “T 1 k a11 that ^ - «« Proposed
tion between Quetta and Nushki mio-ht not 31 'tP’' S P er ^ a P s a question whether the connec-
reasons given in His ExPlePy“!f e ViProT’fmfnute'T ^ “T-P, a ‘ ^ ^
portion of the work for the present, and wait till things de^p atit t0 P ° StPOne ^
c. M. II[ivaz],— 9-9-99.
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’ [261v] (530/617), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/350, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x000083> [accessed 21 July 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