![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎148v] (295/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0302.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎148v] (295/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [148v] (295/949)
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.
18
A
existing cultivation in Persian Seistan, and also allow of a large future exten
sion of that cultivation. This would also leave a requisite supply for all
Afghan requirements.
11. I therefore give the following award :—
Award,
1 . As in draft A.
2 . The amount of water requisite for irrigation of Persian lands irrigable
from and below the Band-i-Kohak is one-third of the whole volume of the
Helmand river which enters Seistan.
Seistan, to which Sir Prederick Goldsmid’s award applies, comprises all
lands on both banks of the Helmand from Bandar-i-Kamal Khan downwards.
3 . Persia is, therefore, entitled to one-third of the whole Helmand river
calculated at the point where water is first taken off from it to irrigate lands
on either bank situated at or below Bandar-i-Kamal Khan.
4 . Any irrigation works constructed by Afghanistan to divert water into
Seistan lands, as above defined, must allow of at least one-third of the volume
of the whole river being available for Persian use at Band-i-Kohak.
5 .
6.
7.
8 .
As at 2 in draft A.
>j jj ° j> a a
4
if ii ^ if 55 55
55 55 h „ 55 55
Draft C.
Preliminary remarks.
Paragraphs 1 to 7 as in draft A.
Paragraphs 8 and 9 as in draft B.
Paragraph 10 (a) (b) (c) as in draft B.
Paragraph 10 (d). A large area of land in the Tarakun and Hauzdar
tracts was once cultivated. A portion of this area lies within Persian territory.
It may at some future time be
found possible to irrigate these
tracts from the Helmand river,
and therefore the right of
Persia defined* in Sir Prederick
Goldsmid’s award would extend to a requisite supply of water for the Persian
portion of those lands also. 5
* The irrigation of Taraknn and Hanzdar from the Helmand
would bring those lands within the Goldsmid definition of “both banks
of the Helmand The argument of the Government of India
stated in paragraph 39 of my memorandum thus falls through.
A. H. McMahon.
+ If thought preferable, this paragraph from here onwards
could read thus :—“ It has been ascertained that water amounting
to one-third of the whole Helmand river would suffice to properly
irrigate the Tarakun and Hauzdar tracts, of which amount one-half
(i.e., one-sixth of the Helmaud) would suffice to irrigate the Persian
portion of the said tracts.
Itf has been ascertained that
water amounting to one-sixth
of the whole Helmand would
suffice properly to irrigate tiie
portion of those lands belong
ing to Persia.
11. I therefore give the following award;—
Award,
1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , as in draft B.
5 . Should it be hereafter found possible to irrigate from the Helmand the
portion of the Tarakun-Hauzdar tract lying within Persian territory, Persia
will be entitled to another one-sixth of the volume of the whole Helmand river
for the irrigation of that tract. In this case, it is of course understood that
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [148v] (295/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000060> [accessed 18 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000060
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_100093227829.0x000060">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎148v] (295/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000060"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0302.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_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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