‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [21v] (41/949)
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
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8
REPORT ON TRADE OF PERSIA.
On a general review of all these circumstances I venture an opinion that
the impetus given to trade of other countries in Persia must already have
produced nearly its full effect, and that our trade, which 'has survived this
competition without very serious detriment, may expect to share in any exten
sion of markets arising from the increase of wealth and population or from the
greater consumption of foreign commodities in Persia.
Statistics kindly furnished by the Administrator-General of Customs for the
first quarter of 1903-04, compared with the corresponding period of the
previous year, show a considerable increase in trade.* They are not encour-
aging from the point of view of relative increase in our cotton textiles com
pared with those of Russia. But I do not attach much importance to stat
istical figures for a short period, and for this period in particular they are of
little value to form general deductions from, as they must include much
merchandise held over from the previous quarter when the new tariff first came
into force.
The population of Persia at the present time approaches ten millions, so
that the annual consumption of foreign commodities is little over ios. per
head—a little over 45. per head from Russia, a little less than 4s. from the
British Empire, and 2s. from other countries. As regards classes of
foreign commodities the sum might be divided thus—about 45 . 6d per head for
textiles, 25. 6d. per head for sugar, 6d. per head for tea, and 25. 6d. per head
for other commodities.
I believe there is, on the whole, a distinct improvement in the condition
of the people. The question is somewhat obscured by the depreciation in
the gold value of the silver coinage of Persia, as the first impression usually
is that, prices having risen, the cost of living must have increased. But
prices of labour and produce appear to have risen in proportion. Information
obtained at the various places visited usually tended to show that the peasant
is somewhat less hardly treated by landlord and taxgatherer, and is better
clothea and better fed than formerly, and that more land has been brought
under cultivation. Of course these circumstances have varied in different
Customs statistics:—
Tea from Russia.
Mans.
Krans.
First Quarter, 1902-03
» >» 1503-04
12,170
• • • • • . 12,368
199,322
2 37j 5 i 3
Increase
398
3S,i9 r
Tea from British Empire.
Mans.
Krans.
First Quarter, 1902-03
» » 1903-04
232,389
1 , 702 , 00 ^
3,379,238
Increase
. 92,855
1 , 677,238
Cotton Tissues from Russia.
Mans.
Krans.
First Quarter, 1902-03
„ „ 1903-04
196289
. 336,577
5,091,483
8 , 117,184
Increase
140,288
3,025,701
Cotton
Tissues from British Empire.
First Quarter, 1902-03
» v 1903*04
Mans.
Krans.
720,728
• ♦ • • . . 989,466
*5,156,522
* 8 ,975,642
Increase
268,738
3 , 819,120
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’ [21v] (41/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227828.0x00002a> [accessed 3 July 2026]
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- 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
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- Open Government Licence
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