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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [108r] (214/949)
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.
13
The line by the trade route to Band-i-Seistan is 432 miles long and is estimated to cost
Rs. 2 , 57 , 40 , 000 .
Either line, Mr. Johns says, could easily be constructed in two years or even less, and
there are no water difficulties on the Helmand route. All this shows how wrong we were to
give up the Durand line here for the more southern boundary actually adopted. Your Excel
lency has agreed to work being pushed a little on the Nushki line. The Public Works
Department have provided an extra 15
lakhs
One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees
, and the line will now be opened to Nushki in
January 1905 , instead of January 1906 . Fifty-six miles beyond Nushki on Mr. Johns's align
ment to Landi Wali Muhammad lie within our border, and could be made at any time.
Your Excellency will, I think, wish to place the potentialities of Seistan as illustrated by
these reports very clearly before His Majesty's Government. The late and present Amirs
have realised the value of the Tarakun tract to the south of the Helmand, and so has Mr.
Miller. He tried, so Mr. Dobbs reported, to make the Hashmat believe that we had arranged
with the Afghans to give them most of Seistan if they gave us this. McMahon now reports
in his telegram of 22nd July that the Yamin let out that Persia contemplates offering to assist
the Amir in making the Tarakun canal in return for water for Ramrud and Hauzdar. I
presume that this is the alternative to their first intention of disputing the straight line bound
ary from Koh-i-Malik Siah to Band-i-Seistan.
It is dangerous and insidious, and must be resisted by all means in our power. With our
rail head at Nushki or Kain we shall have at least three years the pull of the Russians
in completing railway connection with Seistan, and ought to be able to make our position there
impregnable. The Helmand line is absolutely protected by the Dasht-i-Margo and the Registan,
8 outh of Girishk, on the north, and by the Baluchistan deserts on the south.
Mr. Johns's reports on lines from Koondi on the trade route to Pasni and to Karachi
indicate that the first would cost Rs. 5 , 08 , 00 , 000 , and the second at least 7 | crores, and it would
take 8 years at a sanguine estimate to build. We may therefore, I think, dismiss these from
present consideration, though his report shows that there are potentialities about Kech and
Panjgur which may render it desirable to make a road from Pasni or Gwettar Bay to these
places and on by Ladgasht to Robat.
I have merely put up his reports for reference here. They will be separated on return
from this secret file and dealt with confidentially in Military and Public Works Departments.
If Your Excellency wishes us to treat the Seistan irrigation question at this stage officially,
this will be done, but the papers are submitted at once as you may prefer to place your views
before His Majesty's Government personally.
L. W. Dane,—29-7-03.
I have read the reports carefully, and concur with Secretary as to the wonderful poten
tialities which they unfold.
I am writing on the matter to His Majesty's Government.
C[urzon], — 3 - 8 - 03 .
Telegram to Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., No. 2721 F.-B., dated the 16 th
September 1903 .
With reference to his letter No. 911 , dated the 15 th July 1903 , to meet the 'possibility of His
Highness the Amir meeting His Excellency the Viceroy at the end of October 1903 , asks
him to send a further report, together with his opinion on certain matters in connection
with the control of the Helmand, and the extent of country we should lease or acquire
up to Landi Wali Muhammad, 8fc.
Telegram, No. 440 , dated Seistan the 3 rd (despatched from Dalbandin on 8th) October 1903 .
From— Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan
Arbitration Commission,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Simla.
Your telegram No. 2721 F.-B., dated 16 th September. My report was despatched by post
yesterday, 2nd October.
From Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., No. 1121 , dated the 1 st (received
13 th) October 1903 .
With reference to Foreign Department telegram No. 2721 F.-B., dated the 16 th September
1903 , forwards a further report on matters connected with the control of the Helmand
Fiver.
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’ [108r] (214/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x00000f> [accessed 15 August 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
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence