‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [154r] (306/949)
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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t 3 ]
This also may be run into our current file about Russian roads and railway project* in
E. H. S. Clarke, —18-1-1904.
Special Branch.
Extract from the “Statesman," dated Calcutta, the 12 th January 1904 .
According to Russian report, says the Koluische Zeitung, the Shah of Persia has granted
to a Persian merchant a concession for the construction of a railway from 'iehran to Shimiran,
which is to be completed in a year. The line will have branches to Gulahek and Shah Abad.
A start has been made in the work of constructing the road from Mazreh to Kazvin, to the
great commercial town of Hamadan on the road from Tehran to Bagdad. In Russian circles
it is expected that the new road will facilitate Russia^ commercial relations with Persia.
The work of constructing the road from the Russian frontier to Tabriz has also been begun.
The portion of the road from Quetta to Kirman vid Nushki will be constructed in such
a way that it can be used at any time as a railway embankment. In Rus.-ian commercial and
military circles the greatest importance is attached to this new undertaking.
Let Foreign Office see.
D. E. McCracken, —15-1-1904,
Seen in the Foreign Department.
This may be run into our file about the Russian railway programme in Persia.
E. H. S. Clarke, —18-1-1904.
Where are these places ?
L. W. Dane,— 18-1-1904.
We have no map showing Mazreh and Shah Abad. The other places mentioned are
marked in the map below. Shimran is a
Gazetteer of Persia, Wume II, page 419. small village a few miles north of Tehran.
E. L. N.,—19-1-1904.
E. H. S. Clarke, —19-1-1904.
It is merely a short tramway. The extract from the Tehran despatch which I marked
should he added and the case submitted to His Excellency for information. We could per
haps hardly call this a railway in the north of Persia.
L. W. Dane,— 19-1-1904.
Extract from encloiure to despatch from His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, No. 194, dated th* 7th
December 1903.
******
Road concessions in Persia.
*****
5. The Shimran Tramway, from Tehran to Granted in 1895 to Mr. Moral. He
offered the concession successively to Messrs. Keppel, Engineers at Berlin, and to M. Poliakoff,
of Moscow. Both firms refused it. The concession has now heen granted to a Persian
merchant named Herati, but no attempt has yet been made to build the tramway.
There is already a similar tramway from Tehran to Shah Abdul Azim about the same
distance, south of Tehran, as Shimran is to the north.
C[crzon],— 23-1-1904.
A note and map which have been prepared in the Intelligence Branch are forwarded here
with. They were received to-day and are sent on without delay.
J. Wolfe Murray,— 21-1-1904.
Intelligence Branch Note.
The accompanying map shows, in red, the various Russian proposals for railways in
Persia; and, in blue, certain lines which have been suggested at various times as Englis,.
projects.
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’ [154r] (306/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x00006b> [accessed 1 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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