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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [250v] (499/949)
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.
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[ «* ■ ]
It will be well on a future occasion if the Resident is asked to submit a definite and full pro-
grammefor each place in consultation with the Minister. Colonel Kemball only reached Bushire
at the end of September and then had to go round the Gulf. He suggested certain arrangements
in his demi-official of 8th October, but these were superseded by Sir A. Hardinge’s telegram,
dated 22nd October, and we did not apparently issue Major Daly's draft telegram. Colonel
Kemball did not repeat his inquiries and so at Bahrein and Bushire there was rather a muddle,
for which I am afraid the Minister, the Resident, and we are all partly responsible. However,
seeing that everything had to be kept secret to the last moment and no official programmes
could be prepared after referring these to the local officers, owing to the time that it takes to
get an answer from Bushire, it is not surprising that hitches should have occurred. Indeed it
is a matter for congratulation that in the circumstances the arrangements should have worked
as well as they did.
L. W. Dane, —5-12-1903.
Despatch from His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No. 34 (Secret), dated
the 6th November (received 11th December) 1903.
Acknowledges receipt of Secret Despatch No. 14S y dated the 17th September 1903, and conveys
the formal approval of His Majesty's Government to His Excellency the Viceroy's visit
to Maskat and the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. Communicates certain remarks and suggestions on
the subject.
Seen.
C[urzon],
K[itchener].
T. R[aleigh].
E. EG. L[aw].
E. R. E[lle8],— 17-12-1903.
A. T. A[rundel], —16-12-1903.
Denzil I[bbetson], —16-12-1903.
Despatch to His Majesty’s Secretary op State for India, No. 196 (Secret—External),
DATED THE 17TH DECEMBER 1903.
Report on the visit of His Excellency the Viceroy to Maskat and the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
Enclosure in a letter from the Secretary, Political Department,
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.
,
No. 50, dated the 27th November (received 19th December) 1903.
Copy of a telegram from the Marquess of Lansdowne, to Sir A. Hardinge, regarding the
Viceroy's visit to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
Enclosure in a letter from His Britannic Majesty's Minister at Tehran, No. 41,
dated the 14th November (received 21st December) 1903.
Translation of an article which appeared on 3rd November, in the Tehran Gazette “Iran,” on
the subject of His Excellency the Viceroy's visit to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
Enclosure in a letter from the Secretary, Political Department,
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.
,
No. 50, DATED THE 27lH NOVEMBER (RECEIVED 30TH DECEMBER) 1903.
Communication from Lord Lansdowne, to Sir A. H. Hardinge, regarding the Viceroy's visit
to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
Z<i
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
Turkish Arabia
A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
, No. 826, dated the 16th December
1903 (received 4th January 1904).
Norwards a copy of a Utter from the British Vice-Consul at Karbala, reporting the rumours
current there in connection with His Excellency the Viceroy's recent visit to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
Submitted for information. A copy of the letter may be sent 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.
with
Secretary’s weekly letter. Memorandum put up.
J. R. R.,—14-1-1904.
H. P. C,,—14-1-1904.
L. Russell,—14-1-1904.
C. H. Hill,—15-1-1904.
L. W. Dane, —15-1-1904.
C[urzon],—15-1-1904.
Memo, of papers forwarded to the Secretary, Political Department,
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.
with Secretary’s weekly letter No. 3 M., dated the 21st January 1904. *
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’ [250v] (499/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x000064> [accessed 11 July 2026]
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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