![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎164v] (327/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0334.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎164v] (327/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [164v] (327/949)
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.
23
lines, for which we have any data, which has already been fjiven on pages 9, e> *(‘(). , o 1 the
notes. The most direct line for a Russian railway to the Gulf is either that mentioned by
Lieutenant-Colonel Maunsell, or the line from Kazvin to Hamadan on which they are starting
work, with its extension via Burujird, Khorremabad, Dizful, Shushter to Mohammerah or to
Mashur and Khor Musa. As to this nearly all authorities are agreed.
Any Russian line from Julfa to Tehran, Isfahan, and Kerman would be twice the
length of a British line from the head of the Gulf to the British Irontier. It is difficult
to see how we are to defeat the Russian design of making railroads in Persia as chaus&ees,
unless we are prepared to go to war with her over the question, or to construct similar
countervailing works ourselves. The railway from Orenburg to lashkend, constructed while
the Siberian undertaking was in progress, is a proof of what Russia can accomplish ; and once
she has made her chaussees to Hamadan and Tehran, the rest is not so difficult.
L. W. Dane,— 30-3-04.
This is in the main a military or strategical question. It was with that object that I
sent it to the Intelligence Department. What I asked them to do is stated in paragraph 11
of my former note. They have mistaken the nature of the reference, and concluded that I
wanted nothing but the series of extracts with which they have provided me. 1 could easily
have found them for myself.
Of course, what 1 want is the reasoned discussion explained by me with the utmost
clearness in paragraphs 11, 12, 13, and 14 of my note. I was in hopes that having sent in my
note a month ago, I might have had the reply of the Intelligence Department and the
military authorities in time to deal with the case before I leave India. But as a mouth has
been consumed in preliminaries, this seems hardly likely.
I can only remit the papers and suggest the examination which I before asked for, but
which has not apparently even been begun.
C[urzon], —30-3-04.
The best wav of ensuring that the case is promptly taken up will be to print up here
urgently and send a copy of the papers unofficially to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief
and another to the Military Department and “Intelligence Branch. Perhaps, before His
Excellency leaves Simla they will be able to let him have their views.
L. W. Dane, — 31-3-04.
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’ [164v] (327/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000080> [accessed 17 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000080
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_100093227829.0x000080">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎164v] (327/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000080"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0334.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