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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [18r] (34/949)
The record is made up of 1 file (475 folios). It was created in 7 Nov 1901-23 Aug 1905. 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.
Report received from Mr. H t W. Maclean, the Special
Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence
Committee of the Board of Trade to Inquire into and Report
upon the Conditions and Prospects of British Trade in Persia.
To the Chairman of the Commercial Intelligence Committee
of the Board of Trade.
Sir, Resht, 20th December 1903.
< I HAVE the honour to submit herewith a Report on the present
condition and prospects of British trade and enterprise in Persia, as
follows:—
I. A General Report.
II. Statistics as to the increase or decrease of foreign trade with Persia
in recent years; and Tables of Imports and Exports for the two
years March 1901-3, indicating the countries from and to
which the various Articles of Commerce have been received or
despatched.
III. List of the principal Articles of Commerce in Persia, with information
as to quantities, prices, areas of distribution or production of
articles imported or exported.
IV. The manner in which trade in Persia is commonly conducted;
information as to coinage, exchanges, weights, and measures in
use; transport and packing of merchandise for inland destina
tions; and a table showing average cost of transport between the
principal foreign markets and the principal commercial centres
in Persia.
V. Notes on the chief commercial centres, on local trade usages and'
other matters of commercial interest, and on the principal trade
routes in Persia.
VI. List of samples with descriptions and prices.
In commenting on the different articles of trade I have had to follow the
grouping adopted in the Persian Customs Statistics, and consequently have
not been able to adhere strictly to the order indicated in the instructions
issued for my guidance in this visit to Persia on behalf of the Commercial
Intelligence Committee.
< I desired to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to H. M.
Minister and H. M. Diplomatic and Consular Officers in Persia, as well as to the
manager and agents of the Imperial Bank of Persia, to the British merchants,
and other British residents in Persia, for the kind reception and valuable
help invariably accorded to me. I desire also to acknowledge the ready and
courteous manner in which H. E. the Minister of Customs and the various
customs officials and Persian merchants to whom I have applied have furnished
me with information.
I have, &c.,
H. W. MACLEAN.
About this item
- Content
This part contains papers mostly relating to British interests in Persia [Iran] and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
It includes a copy of the Board of Trade Commercial Intelligence Committee ‘Report received from Mr. H. W. Maclean, the Special Commissioner appointed by the Commercial Intelligence Committee of the Board of Trade, on the conditions and prospects of British trade in Persia.’
A handwritten note at the front of the file, on folio 5, states ‘Spare copy of notes & correspondence of the “Helmand Control” file (with maps)’. Folio 110 consists of handwritten notes, including one dated 27 April 1904, which states ‘The secret Helmand papers have been printed up, and a set, with necessary maps, is submitted for H.E. the Viceroy to take to England.’ Much of the file concerns the question of controlling the water of the Helmand river and irrigating its whole delta, and the work of the Seistan Arbitration Commission to arbitrate between Persia and Afghanistan on the question of rights to the water of the Helmand in Seistan.
The file also includes reports by W A Johns on reconnaissances of potential railway routes made while he was attached to the Seistan Arbitration Commission, and other papers relating to railways and roads in Persia.
In addition, the file includes copies of the following Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, which reproduce received Foreign Department correspondence on the following subjects: ‘Selection of a British naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .’, November 1901, Nos. 74-83; ‘Visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. during November-December 1903.’, February 1904, Nos. 33-127; ‘Establishment of telegraphic communication with Henjam. Question of the selection of a naval base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Aggressive action of the Persians at Tamb and Abu Musa; their claim to the Islands.’, June 1904, Nos. 300-388; ‘Reports of the Commercial Mission to Persia.’, June 1905, Nos. 45-111; ‘Question of retaining flagstaffs erected in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory’, August 1905, Nos. 288-307.’
The file also includes: brief handwritten notes written by Curzon on headed paper belonging to the Viceregal Lodge, Simla, relating to Seistan and to Lord Kitchener’s planned reforms for the reorganisation and redistribution of the Indian Army; and a printed copy of the report ‘A Note by Major H.L. [Herbert Lionel] Showers, C.I.E., on the present state of affairs in Kelat and a review of the system of Administration now being pursued.’
The file includes four maps: ‘Map of the Tail waters of Helmand River’ (13 July 1903), f 122; ‘Plan Shewing Proposed Routes for a Railway from Nushki to Afghan Frontier near Robat’ (10 April 1903), f 139; ‘Extract from Admiralty Chart No. 753. (Entrance to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ).’ (October 1901), f 219; and ‘Sketch of route Ram Hormuz to Fellahieh.’ (April 1904), f 230.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (475 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in no apparent order, apart from the Government of India Foreign Department Proceedings, folios 231 to 474, which are arranged in chronological order.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [18r] (34/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x000023> [accessed 7 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- front, 2r:194v, 195v:196r, 197v:199v, 200v, 201v, 203r:272r, 273v:275v, 277r:405v, 408r:408v, 409v, 411r:413v, 414v:419v, 420v:424v, 425v:432v, 433v:435v, 436v, 437v:443v, 444v:471v, 473r:475v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence