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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [200r] (398/949)
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.
—
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government,]
PERSIA AND ARABIA.
CON EIDEN TIAL.
[July 11 .]
Section 15 .
1
No. 1 .
Sir A. Hardinge to the Marquess of Lansdoirne.—{Received July 11 .)
(No. 117. Confidential.)
M y Lorfl > t ... Gw/aM, Jane 21, 1904.
I HA\ E the honour to transmit herewith copies of correspondence which has
passed between the Persian Government and myself regarding the alleged arrival of a
British detachment and of 400 loaded camels in Seistan by “ an unusual route.”
I have little doubt that the reference is to Colonel MacMahon’s reliefs, plus the
Meshed escort, and the Ain-ed-Dowleh, when I mentioned this to him on the
18th instant, admitted that the telegram of the 26th May, on which the Persian
Government’s note was based, had been sent by the Russian Consul in Seistan.
In discussing the matter with me, both his Highness and the Mushir-ed-Dowleh
referred, whilst implying that they did not themselves share it, to the Shah’s extreme
sensitiveness about Seistan, and to the suspicions respecting our unfriendly designs
there, which the Russians never lost an opportunity of instilling into His Majesty’s
mind.
I he Russian Legation lately addressed a Memorandum to the Persian Government,
a copy of which I have the honour to inclose, warning it that His Majesty’s Government
was instigating the Afghans to take advantage cf Russia’s embarrassments in the Far
East in order to occupy Seistan and divide it with them ; and the Cossack Colonel told
me a few days ago that he had been assured that I was negotiating with the Ain-ed-
Dowleh, with a xiew to securing, in return for a subsidy to Persia, her acquiescence in
these arrangements. On my asking whether he really considered it worth his while to
report such absurd stories to his Government, Colonel TchernozoubofF observed that
such a policy on our part was quite conceivable, and that many Russians thought their
Government had been mistaken in not taking advantage of our troubles in South Africa
to seize Herat. Some of the Russian Agents here have been wrought up by the
incidents of the war to such a nervous and excitable state that they credit any
sensational rumour respecting our intentions in the Middle East, and their recent
warnings to the Persians spring perhaps as much from a genuine uneasiness on the
subject as from a deliberate adherence to their now long-practiced system of exciting
Persian suspicions against us.
I have, &c.
(Signed) ARTHUR H. HARDINGE.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1 .
Note from the Mushir-ed-Dowleh to Sir A. Hardinge. dated June 16, 1904.
(Translation.)
ACCORDING to a telegraphic report, a copy of which is herewith inclosed for
your information, and which has been submitted to His Imperial Majesty the Shah,
400 loaded camels, escorted by 100 riflemen, have arrived at the camp of the Commis
sioners fi om India by a route on which they w r ere not seen by the Customs authorities.
It is clear to your Excellency’s enlightened mind that such measures on the part of the
nghsh officials, whose desiie is the maintenance of peace and order, are matters of
great surprise, because, firstly, they must not have entered where there are no customs
houses: secondly, that the entry of 100 armed men without any special permission is
against usage, and therefore not permissible; thirdly, that they have not observed the
quaiantine Regulations, and have violated the Government arrangements.
Being convinced that these proceedings are entirely against your wish, I feel sure
that you will send telegraphic orders to let the loads be examined by the local
Customs officials, and that if the horsemen have come to relieve the escort of the
Commissioner, the men who are to return will return for certain with the knowledge of
[2049 Z—15]
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’ [200r] (398/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227829.0x0000c7> [accessed 9 July 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- 195r, 200r
- Author
- Government of Persia
- Usage terms
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