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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [174r] (346/949)
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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1
Leading Article in the Novoe Vremya of December 1903 .
Lord Curzon’s Tour in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
has awakened the interest of the
Foreign Press in the Shah’s Dominions. Of course Persia interests the
English most of all, who consider the present political state of affairs favours
the^ realisation of their eternal intention to occupy southern Persia. The
question of the necessity of settling the boundaries of British and Russian
spheres of interests in Persia, that is, in other words, the division of Persia,
lias already many times excited the English Press but without any success: on
this account English politicians have evolved something quite new ; now they
talk of a dual Anglo-Russian control over the Persian Government. Reports
have been spread abroad that British diplomatists are endeavouring to con
vince the Shah’s Government of the possibility of an agreement being arrived
at between England and Russia with regard to the establishment of a dual
control in Persia. Russia according to the English was formally against the
idea of a dual control, but as the state of affairs in Persia has latterly been
getting considerably worse, Russia has recognised that it is necessary to take
Persia under the joint control of England and Russia, with a view of pre
venting disorders in the Middle East; England will take the southern half
under her control and Russia the northern half, whilst the general control
over the imperial affairs of the whole Empire will be jointly shared by England
and Russia.
It can easily be understood that the belief of Indian politicians in the
feasibility of carrying out such a plan in the immediate future, leads to con
siderable perturbation at Tehran. In Tehran they have already ceased for a
long time to bow before the power of England. We have a proof of this in
the ceremonial reception recently arranged for Lord Curzon on his proposed
visit to Bushire and which he considered insufficient for his Viceregal impor
tance. In spite of Lord Curzon’s dissatisfaction the Tehran Government did
not consider it necessary to change the ceremonial, and therefore Bushire was
not visited by the Governor of India. As a matter of fact the time when
England could blockade the Gulf Ports and occupy the valley of the Karun
River has long since passed away, and Persia has now no fear that England
will visit her revenge on her. Persia has a northern neighbour—powerful
Russia, who would not tolerate such pressure.
But of course if England comes to an agreement with Russia as to mutual
interference in Persian affairs the position of the old Iran Monarchy will be
most critical: that is why England is endeavouring to lay her hands on South
ern Persia and is striving to frighten the Persian Government into believing
in the possibility of such an agreement.
The object of trying to frighten Persia by means of a plan, which as a
matter of fact really only exists in the realm of fancy, is apparently to wring
from her Government considerable concessions.
If Russia has always energetically opposed every attempt of England to
divide Persia into spheres of influence, how much more energetically ought
she not to oppose every proposal for a dual control ? We need an indepen-
dent, powerful and solvent Fersia and therefore do not wish to conclude any
deal icith England, the object of which is diametrically opposed to our policy,
and which would lead to the annexation of Southern Persia by her.
It is impossible to deny that Persia is passing through a serious economic
crisis, that great reforms are necessary in the internal administrations of the
country, and that an improvement of her communications, without which no
commercial development is possible, is absolutely necessary. But Persia can
attain this without a Foreign domination, by relying on the benevolent assis
tance of Russia, who has already shown by her civilising work in the northern
Provinces that she has no intention of annexation. We have built and ai;e
building carriage roads in northern Persia ; we have founded a bank at Tehran,
branches of which are opened in the most important commercial centres of the
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’ [174r] (346/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x000093> [accessed 23 August 2026]
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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