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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [187r] (372/949)
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.
On the Importance for Russian Trade of Railway communications in North
Rersia.
Comparing the results of the recently completed explorations and investi
gations in Persia, it is impossible to avoid the conclusion that the continuation
of the network of liussian railways from Trans-Caucasia into Persia has now
become both a political and economic necessity.
The investigation of the direction of the future lines has made it clear that
these lines must take the direction of the meridian, and by two different routes,
each of which has its general and local significance. Por the benefit of Russian
trade and the political importance of Russia it is necessary to unite the nearest
centres of Persia to our borders with the lines of Trans-Caucasia, but not to
construct lines connecting above-mentioned ways of communication. All roads
not having direct connection wPh our frontier will serve only for the develop
ment of the country, while yielding us no direct advantage in trade. Further
more, such lines connecting centres like Tehran and Tabreez, may serve for the
rapid movement and concentration of troops, which of course is not to be feared
as Persia is devoid of military organization. But with them all may change,
and the roads become the cause of undesirable complication.
At the present time, with the most primitive exclusively pack-animal roads
in Persia, from our frontier to centres like Khoi, Tabreez, Ardabil, Tehran and
Resht, Russian trade has succeeded with the aid of measures of encouragement
on the part of the Ministry of Finance in wholly ousting certain classes of
foreign goods—sugar, kerosine, pottery wares, metals, in northern Persia, and to
gain partial possession of the markets of Azerbaijan and Iran. Some of our
goods compete with the foreigner even in the centre of Persia, in Ispahan.
With the construction of railways we shall not only gain complete posses
sion of the markets of north Persia, but the mirkets of western and southern
Persia will be open to us, as the roads for pack-animals on the side of the Persian
Gulf and Trebizond will in no case bear the competition of modern ways of
communication.
However thinly populated be the north and centre of Persia, however, in
considerable the requirements of her inhabitants, nevertheless a market having
4,0 > 0,000 to 5 , 000,000 consumers possesses great importance for our country’s
industry, as according to the minimum data for the total trade of Persia (namely,
9 , 000 , 0001 . or 85 , 000,000 roubles), if we deduct that of the southern ports
( 32 , 000,000 roubles) there will be left to north Persia a trade of 53 , 000,000 roub
les, which, with the exception of a small part belonging to the Trans-Caspian
region, will take the direction of the projected lines.
For the trade and industry of Russia Persia has further a specially great
importance as a country producing cotton.
The Moscow, Vladimir, and the cotton industry districts receive a third of
the cotton they use from Trans-Caucasia and Turkestan, and two-thirds from
America and Fgypt. The two latter markets may be closed to us, and in case of
political complications the vast marority of our mills will be obliged to be closed.
The Persian market immediataly adjacent to our inner sea, the Trans-Cau
casian and Trans-Caspian regions, being independent of the political situation in
Europe, only awaits the organization of modern ways of communication in order
to develop cotton production to become a competitor of Egypt and America, and
finally oust these providers of our mills. Already, at the present time, cotton
from Gilan, Mazanderan, the Iran table-land, and even from Ispahan is directed
to the Caspian Sea for transhipment to Russia. The cost of freight of a pood of
cotton from Tehran to Moscow will be 15 per cent, less than from Kokened,
as the way fromMascow via Orenburg, taking the shortest distance, will be 3,600
I versts, while that from Tehran to Moscow will be about 3,000 versts.
The cotton growing business is new one in Persia, but it has a great future
and it is very important for Russia to aid its development, for which purpose it
mainly necessary to construct ways of communication. An example of the
influence of communications on the development of cotton growing is to be seen
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’ [187r] (372/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x0000ad> [accessed 15 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
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence