![‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎269r] (545/617)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003ba/Mss Eur F111_350_0555.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎269r] (545/617)")
‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [269r] (545/617)
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.
t 15 ]
t0 ae
some time been
engaged in a study of the situation at Bunder Abbas B • a
the present year, a German man-of-war the “ Artnna’’' ‘i 16 Spiing of
and Bushire; and reports have reached us Z 4elv Lin S all >
distant date. nF n fi-ofom-r, ~c t , , ^ le ■^ 1 ^ e v a PPearance. at ne
distant date, of a Ger^ntinTof m^STte^mrinTe^r^ 06 ' at ™
aT’oS m?^7 P “S SSmational t^tt&i~ irstnle“t!on
complexiWes 0 ^ an ^^®^y e ®nfficiently aS difficult a ^itua'Kcm ) 0r we a do ai not 1 °question
the ZomJZde commercial enterprise which is carrying German trade there t to
so many other open seas and ports in the world, and we can conceive that we
s Xu"rS for ’our own^r 06 ° f ^ F^ 0 * 1 interesfa - ““
sam ictrd tor om on n. German interests, however, have a tendency to erow
Wit i some rapidity, and by steps which are not always acceptable to thpir*
neighbours : and we think that the need for an early decision upon the future
pa icy to be adopted by Her Majesty’s Government is not diminished, but is
enhanced, by the appearance of so active a competitor upon the scene.
45. Apart from the recurrent symptoms of activity on the southern and
western shores of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, with which Her Majesty’s Government are
laminar, the iurkish Government have also in recent years displayedanincreas-
ing interest in its political fortunes. A determined attempt has been made to
lortily the shadowy pretensions of the Ottoman Porte to suzerainty over Koweit.
A Turkish title has been conferred upon the Sheikh; and forces have more
than once been assembled at Basrah for a contemplated expedition against that
place. Intrigues are constantly in progress at Bahrein. During 1898 and 1899^
Turkish corvette has been a frequent visitor at Lingah, where, the Sheikh
being of Arab descent, Turkish interests are supposed to exist. Finally, the
decisions of the Venice Conference and the proceedings of the Sanitary Board at
Constantinople have enabled Turkey to claim an interest in the navigation of
those waters, of which she has not been slow to take advantage.
46. The only other recent evidences of foreign intervention in the Persian
Gulf, of which we are cognisant, are a concession for the pearl-fisheries in that
sea, which was given in 1898 by the Persian Government to a Spaniard and a
Belgian, under Bussian auspices; and the contemplated appearance at the
Gulf ports of customs officers of Belgian nationality, similar to those who
have already been placed in charge of the customs houses at Kermanshah and
Tabriz, and whose influence, said to be omnipotent at the present moment with
the Sadr Azam, is known to be entirely enlisted on the side of Prance and
llussia.
47. We have gathered together these symptoms of external, and notably
of Russian or of Russophil, interest in Southern Persia and in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
,
not because we desire to invest them individually with an importance to which
they are not entitled, but because collectively they indicate, in a manner that is
not open to misinterpretation, the policy and ambitions of foreign Powers, and
because we desire to impress upon Her Majesty’s Government the fact that in
an area, by land and by sea, which Great Britain regards with good reason as
fallin 0 ’ within her sphere of influence, that influence is being directly and
increasingly challenged by other nations, who, in proportion as their foothold
becomes more securelv established, will resist any preferential claims, upon what-
ever'foundation in history or in fact they may rest, and will claim for themselves
an equality of right which in theory it may he difficult to contest.
48. More particularly do these considerations apply to tlm case of Russia,
whose advance across the deserts that form a natural harrier o division
between Northern and Southern Persia, cannot he regarded with anything hut
uneasiness by the Government of India, and the appearance of flag m
the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
would import a novel element of unrest into a situation that
at no time without its anxious features. We desire dehberately to say to
IS
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’ [269r] (545/617), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/350, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x000092> [accessed 24 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x000092
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_100072740555.0x000092">‘Seistan Persia & Seistan’ [‎269r] (545/617)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100072740555.0x000092"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003ba/Mss Eur F111_350_0555.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