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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [225v] (449/949)
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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The Sheikh of Mohamrnerah has been allowed by the Persian Government to attain more power than is
likely to be tolerated much longer: and his position is quite at variance with their policy. If his immunity
is due to the weakness of the present Shah it does not at all follow that the Valiahd will not institute quite
a different regime on coming to the throne.
"We incur no danger of distuibing our relations with Tehran in guaranteeing him against his own Govern
ment, so long :is we do not appiar in the matter till they actually move against him. Such a guarantee will
merely give him the confidence he requires to enable him to negotiate or act in certain eventualities, in such a
manner as to induce the Persian Government to leave him alone. He could be required to submit his proposed
action, and the reasons for it, to us for sanction.
So long as we allow no operations by sea, and the Persian army remains in its present state of decay he
can hold his own. Hut if necessary we could prevent any action against him with an objection to any alteration
in the existing state of affairs on the Karun on the pretext of damage to established trade.
Any reorganisation of the Persian army and an increase in the number of men and guns at Mohammerah
and Nasiri, or of the Persian vessels available to coerce the Sheikh at Mehammerah, would alter bis position of
security.
There is, I believe, a general impression that the Sheikh is not open to attack. He is on the contrary
accessible from every side.
The Karun and Jerrahi rivers afford an excellent line of advance from both north and south. As the
country between those streams is practically waterless, except between Mohammerah and Felahieh, the camps,
flocks, and herds of the Arab tribes are concentrated on the river banks and easily accessible.
The centre of the Arab power does not now, as in former times, lie at Hawizeh or Felahjeh, which were
comparatively secure : it is at Mohammerah where two Persian steamers are constantly anchored and may bo
supplemented by steamers of the Belgian Customs administration.
We have at present no one to interfere with any arrangements we may wish to make with the Sheikh of
Mohammerah, but we may not he so favourably situated much longer. He has as yet derived no tangible
benefit from his relations with us. If the guarantee he asks for is granted him, ho might also he given a
subsidy for guarding the projected Khuramabad road as far as Susa : and paid for the sowars he now
maintains on the Bakhtiari road from Nasiri to the border.
The Sheikh has lately repaid the money he borrowed from Messrs. Lynch Brothers: a favourable opportuni
ty may now occur to lend him money at a lower rate of interest. Though wealthy, ho is sometimes in want of
money, before the date harvest is sold, as his expenses are very large.
Lord Curzon noted
A most useful note. It ought to go to Sir A. Hardinge and 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.
for
communication to the Foreign Office at home.
7-3-04. C [ttuzon] .
In letter No. 58 , dated the 4 th March 1 S 04 , the Political Besident in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
forwarded a copy
of a further Diary received from Major Burton, lately His Britannic Majesty’s Acting Vice-Consul at Moham
merah, containing the proceedings of a party of Eussians who had recently visited the Karun. The Foreign
Secretary noted that the operations of the three Russian botanists in taking
soundings
Measurements of the depth of a body of water.
down the Bahmeshir to
the sea showed that the Russian Government had an eye to the possibilities of the Karun region. The Khor
Musa map and another diary received from Major Burton were added. The latter showed that the whole country
south of the Karun was capable of irrigation from the Jarahi river. He also alluded to the Belgian Customs
employes at Buzia and Mashur and to the possibility of their using the launches which they wished to order
from Bombay in these creeks. It was thought that all this indicated the necessity for earmarking Khor Musa
as soon as we could. Nothing could be made of the Bahmeshir as it was blocked by the Sbatt-el-Arab bar,
hut Major Burton’s Diary proved that boats even now could pass from the Khor Musa into the Karun »;/<$
the Khor Dorab and the canal from Janjira to three miles below Salmania, and that this canal could
readily be improved. It was suggested that the importance of the position might be explained to His Majesty’s
Government, that we ought to try and secure harbour rights there as the Russians had done at Enzeli by negotiat
ing for a concession to construct a port somewhere between the Shatt-el-Arab and Bushire with chaussdes from
that to the Dizful and Bakhtiari roads and to Shiraz, this might block other concessions in the same tract.
Lord Curzon noted
Secretary has already made this proposal elsewhere, and I have already said that I do not
agree with him.
24«3-0I. C[urzon].
G. C. Press, Simla.-No. 1783 F. D.-10-9-04.-12.—C. 0. di S.
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