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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎207r] (412/949)

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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. .

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C? 0 ' f '
Teleguam erom Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan
Arbitration Commission, No. 824, dated the 30th October (received 1st
November) 1904.
(Repeated to His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.)
Reports that the Afghan Commissioner has informed him that he has just received the necessary
authority from the Amir to demarcate.
Satisfactory. Copy has been sent to Private Secretary to Viceroy.
E. H. S. Clarke, —2-11-04.
I have put together a draft telegram to Secretary of State, and shall be obliged if Mr.
Clarke will go over it and see if he has any suggestions to make about it.
I am afraid we are bound to try and secure water for at least the existing Persian
cultivation; but, for our interests, it would be far better that a big canal should be made at or
near Kala-i-Bist, and the whole Helmand below that dried up except when in flood. Seistan
would then become a desert, and our defence of India would be made much more simple.
L. W. Dane, —2-11-04.
I have discussed the case with Mr. Clarke, and have added the word 11 political ” before
“ situation ” [status quo) in the last sentence of the draft telegram, which is now submitted for
Your Excellency’s consideration. I will come over to explain the case whenever this may be
convenient. A copy of the draft award as proposed is added.
The telegram might be repeated to Colonel McMahon, and his opinion on it invited. If
he has any further suggestions to offer, these can be telegraphed to Secretary of State in
continuation.
L. W. Dane,— 3-11-04.
■ *
I have discussed the whole question with Mr. Dane, and approve the draft telegram.
* A[mpthill], —4-11-04.
6 a
Memorandum to the 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. , London, showing that a copy of certain papers was
forwarded, for the information of His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India,
under cover of Foreign Secretary’s letter No. 44 M., dated^ the 3 rd November
1904.
7
Telegram to His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India No. 4257 F., dated the 5th
November 1904.
With reference to Colonel McMahon’s letter, dated the 25th September 1904, communicates the
views of the Government of India on the Seistan water question and the award
which it is considered would be most suitable.
8
Telegram to Colonel A. H. McMahon, C.S.I., C.I.E., British Commissioner, Seistan
Arbitration Commission, No. 4258 F., dated the 5th November 1904.
Repeats the foregoing telegram, and asks whether he has any suggestions to offer.
\

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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
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎207r] (412/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x00000d> [accessed 27 June 2026]

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