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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [195v] (389/949)
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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(Received on the 2lst March 1904i, with the Political Secretary’s letter No. 10, dated the
4th March 1904).)
No. 1.
Sir C. Scott to the Marquess of Lansdowne.
No. 11. St. Petersburgh,
(Telegraphic.) P. 14th January 1904.
Authority has been giren to the Russian Road Company to raise a loan of
5 , 000,000 roubles for the construction of a road from Ramadan to Kazvin, and
for the construction of a port at Enzeli.
See my despatch No. 396 of the 23rd November 1903.
(Received on the 28th March 1904<, with the Political Secretary’s letter No. 11, dated the
11th March 1904.)
No. 1 .
Lieutenant-Colonel Maunsell to Sir N. O’Conor.
No. 1.
Sir,
Having read Mr. Spring-Rice’s despatch No. 396, St. Petersburgh, 23rd
November last, with enclosures,'giving published extracts of suggestions made
by certain Russian engineers for railways in Persia, I should like to be per
mitted to forward some remarks on this subject so far as concerns the districts
near the Turko-Persian frontier.
The proposal for a railway in West Persia, most in favour with these engi
neers, appears to be that from Shahtakht on the Araxes to Tabreez by Khoi
(Hoy) and Hilman, the direct route by Julfa being represented as more
difficult.
I have traced this route on the accompanying map,* and it will be noticed
that by making a southerly bend through Dilman, it was probably intended to
tap the trade of the fertile districts alomr the western shore of Lake Urmia, if
not to make a branch to that town itself.
Connected with this also, it is interesting to note that south of Lake Urmia,
along the Lesser Zab Valley lies the easiest route from North-West Persia to the
Tigris Valley.
Prom Urmia the country along the lake shore as far as Sulduz is quite easy
for railway construction, and thence a low pass leads into the head of the Lesser
Zab Valley. The general direction of this valley can be traversed until the
Tigris Plain is readied, when the country lies open either to Baghdad or Mosul.
Along almost the whole length of the Turko-Persian frontier runs a line of
lofty intricate mountains across which a railway from Persia into Turkey could
only be carried at prohibitive expense. The only feasible point for such a line
to cross the frontier is through the break in the long line of hills formed by the
Lesser Zab. The continuity of the line of frontier hills is broken here by the
two plains of Rania and Pishder, both traversed by the Zab, which extend as a
sort of wedge up to the frontier and afford an easy passage for railway
construction.
To cross the low range on the actual frontier the valley of the Wazna
stream could be utilized, until the wide plain of Lahjan where the Zab has its
source, is reached.
London,
9th January 1904.
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’ [195v] (389/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x0000be> [accessed 25 June 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