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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [192r] (382/949)
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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31
Moreover, the line would traverse a peaceful tract of country sufficientlv
remote from the sea and from turbulent tribes, such as the Bakhitiaris, as to
render its security a comparatively easy matter, or only to be threatened by a
costly expeditionary force from the direction of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
The existence of a hostile force on a separate line of communication,
operating in connection with an army on the Herat line, and a subsidiary column
from Meshed, would have an immense effect. Limited as Russia is as to num
bers, only by the consideration of how many men she can transport and main
tain in the field by her lines of railways, such a line would enable her to bring
another 100,000 men into the field, and is thus of more importance even than a
line of railway from Meshed to Seistan, which would, like the Kushk branch,
be dependent on the capacity of the Trans-Caspian and Orenburg Railways.
The existence of such a plan may well cause some modifications of our
general policy in Persia.
If there is.still a question of dividing Persia with Russia into spheres of
influence, and it is recognized as impracticable for us to keep Russia perma
nently from obtaining an outlet to the sea by a long land frontier across Persia
from west to east, it might be possible to divide Persia by a line north and
south, and thus insure her railways remaining at a distance from the western
frontiers of Afghanistan and Baluchistan.
In any case, as .we now have an agreement with Persia that if and when
Russia is granted railway concessions in the north, we shall be given similar
concessions in the south, it is advisable that w r e should, without delay, carry our,
the necessary surveys, and decide exactly what concessions we require.
Otherwise, we may have to demand a line in haste that we do not know,
or find Russia granted a concession right across Persia while we are considering
the matter.
(Signed) H. 1 ). NAPIER, Lieutenant-Colonel,
St. Letersburgh, Ls^vimber 20, 1903.
Military Attache.
G. I. C. 1*. O.—No 3446 K. D - 7-3-<>4. 00. .1. E. P.
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’ [192r] (382/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x0000b7> [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
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence