Skip to item: of 1,061
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎245r] (488/949)

This item is part of

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.

Apply page layout

A
[ 19 ]
Telegram from the 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. , dated the 4th (received
5th) November 1903.
Replies to Foreign Department telegram of the 4th November 1903, and ashs whether Hamriyeh
is not an independent Trucial Chief. Reguests to be informed whether he should arrange
for Ahmed-bin-Thani to meet His Excellency at Bahrein.
I find no mention of Hamriyeh in Aitchison or in Lord Curzon’s Persia. The office also
has no information regarding him.
We might telegraph to Colonel Kemball and say that as Hamriyeh has concluded no
treaty, we think, subject to his advise, that this Sheikh should not rank with the Trucial
Chiefs. Enquiry may also be made whether the Chief of Ras-el-Kheima should not attend
the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). and receive presents.
2. As regards Sheikh Ahmed-bin-Thani of Katr, we may ask Colonel Kemball to tell
Mr. Gaskin to address him privately as suggested.
I put up draft telegram for consideration.
L. Russell, —6*11-1903.
/?
S/'U)
Taken to Secretary. Issue the telegram as modified.
L. Russell,— 6-11-1903.
Telegram to Colonel Kemball, Bushire, No. 2651-E. A., dated the 6th November
1903.
" ^ - V
Replies to his telegram of 4th November.
r...
Telegram from the 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , dated the 6th (received 7th)
November 1903.
States he will arrange that Eamriyeh will not attend Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). . Asks whether Mr. Gaskin
should bs directed to write privately to Sheikh Ahmed suggesting his coming over.
The telegram has been repeated to camp and action will doubtless be taken there.
The question of Sheikh Admed’s summons to Bahrein has been dealt with in a separate file.
L. Russell, —8-11-1903.
S. M. Fraser, —8-11-1903.
Telegram to the 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. , dated the 8th November
1903.
Instructions relative to Ahmed-bin-Thani paying his respects to the Viceroy at Bahrein.
Fkom the Officer Commanding His Majesty’s Ship Argonaut, Bombay, dated the 3rd
November (received in Camp) 1903.
Makes certain enquiries in regard to the two Darbars to be held on board the Argonaut.
Telegram to the Officer Commanding His Majesty’s Ship Argonaut, dated the
8 th November 1903.
States that the Viceroy is much obliged to the Naval Commander-in-Chief for arranging that
Darbars should be held on the Argonaut and asks for certain information.
Telegram, dated the 8 th November 1903.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Viceroy’s Camp,
To—J. G. Lobimeb, Esq., C/o Major Bannerman, I.M.S., Bombay.
Demi-official. Will you be prepared to translate and read in Arabic Viceroy's speeches
at Maskat, etc. Please find out if local Arabic in Gulf differs widely from language of examina
tion passed.
Telegram, dated the 9th November 1903.
From—J. G. Lobimeb, Esq., Parel,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Viceroy’s Camp, Nabha.
Demi-official. Gulf dialect differs largely from Egyptian. Could Commissioner, Sind,
bring up intelligent gentlemanly native scholars Arabic Persian for my selection.

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

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎245r] (488/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x000059> [accessed 5 August 2026]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x000059">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [&lrm;245r] (488/949)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x000059">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0501.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image