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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [214r] (426/949)
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.
i
f
No. 15 (Secret), dated
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, the 14th June 1901.
From— The Right Hon'ble Lord George F. Hamilton, His Majesty’s Secretary
■ Pnr Inrlio ~
of State for India,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India in Council.
I have received your letter No. 66 (Foreign-Secret) of the 2nd May,
on the subject 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.
in view of
certain contingencies.
2 . I have communicated a copy of Your Excellency’s letter to the
Foreign Office, but there are certain points upon which I request that you
will furnish me with further information.
3. _ There appears to he some doubt as to the exact position of the Kalantar
in the islands of Kishm and Ilenjam. He is spoken of in Lieutenant Hunt’s
report as if he were practically beyond the control of the Naib Governor of
Hunder Abbas, of whose district the islands are nominally an appanage. On
the other hand, it is stated in your letter that Sheikh Hassan, who was
Kalantar uhen Lieutenant Hunt wrote, “is said ” to have since been super
seded. It is of importance that the local conditions of the various places
should be definitely ascertained, and, in particular, whether the position of
the Kalantar is hereditary, and of sufficient practical independence to make
an arrangement with him possible and politically advisable, or whether he is
merely liable to removal at any time by the Persian Government.
4. As to the isthmus of Maklab, I do not clearly understand whether
it forms a part of the undoubted territories of the Sultan of Maskat, or
whether the Arab tribes of the locality claim independence. In the former
case, the action suggested by Your Excellency’s Government might, in some
circumstances, raise a question with the French Government under the An»lo-
French Declaration of 1862.
5. I commend further to Your Excellency’s consideration the question
how far measures of preparation could be quietly taken in anticipation of the
contingencies to which this correspondence refers.
No. 1233 E.-A., dated Simla, the 25th July 1901 (Confidential).
From—The Under-Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department,
To— Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, Officiating
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
In continuation of my letter No. 690 E.-A., dated the 1st May 1901, I am
Secret tap»tob t» m s M.je.ty. Secrete, of d 1 i [ ected ‘o forward a copy of tlie margin-
State for India, No. 66 (External), dated the 2nd &Hy noted Correspondence, On the Subject
at„ iam p ii i a , . . J -
May 1901.
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.
.
Secret despatch from His Majesty’s Secretary of
State for India, No. 15, dated the 14th June 1901.
2 . I am to request that you will furnish an early report upon the points
noticed by the Secretary of State, and that you will at the same time favour
the Government of India with suggestions as to any measures of preparation
which might, in your opinion, be quietly taken in anticipation of the contin
gencies to which this correspondence refers. Captain Cox should be directed to
submit a report as to the actual limits of Maskat territory beyond Sohar in the
direction of Cape Mosandim. So far as the Government of India are aware,
the Sultan of Maskat has neither exercised nor claimed authority over the
isthmus of Maklab and the promontory beyond it, which is understood to be
inhabited by aboriginal and independent tribes.
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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- 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