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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [264v] (527/949)
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.
4
I am leaving Shiraz on the 19 th September and shall be back in Bushire
by the end of the month, and hope soon after my return to be in a position to
reply more definitely on these points.
I can think of nothing more to say at present except that I suppose His
Excellency will bring some presents for the various Chiefs and Governors.
These latter may perhaps consider it incumbent on them to send off somethings
to His Excellency, and return presents will be required. On hearing from you,
your wishes in this matter, I will, if desired, submit detailed proposals.
I hope you will let me know by telegram as soon as a definite decision has
been arrived at regarding the tour, as I would like to give warning as early
as possible to the various Arab Chiefs.
In conclusion, may I be permitted to say that His Excellency’s visit will
be warmly welcomed by myself and by the other officers in the Gulf, and that
we will do our best to ensure its success. I hope the Admiral will be able to
.collect a good number of ships so as to make the visit as impressive as possible.
IS 0
Dated Maskafc, the 6 th September 1908.
From— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., His Britannic Majesty's Consul and Political
Agent at Maskat,
To—L. W. Dank, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
I hasten to answer your demi-official letter dated 23 rd August, enelosino*
.a copy of your letter to Colonel Kemball on the subject of the Viceroy’s pro
posed tour in the Gulf, which, I need hardly say, has interested me very much
indeed. It is a grand scheme and will, I devoutly hope, take shape in due
course.
Not so very long ago, with a somewhat complacent Foreign Office and a
very ill-informed British public at home, and with the fate of our supremacy
in South Africa hanging in the balance, Great Britain’s “ predominant influ
ence” in these waters had a somewhat uphill struggle for existence, but happily
owing to the Viceroy’s personality and his keen solicitude for our interests in
the Gulf, a partial awakening came to those at home at the eleventh hour and
our position now seems secure, at all events for some time to come. His Excel
lency’s proposed visit will be a very stirring and visible sign of the reality and
vitality of that influence, and its importance can hardly be overrated whether
it be regarded as an imposing ceremonial which will deeply impress the natives
of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
and Oman, or as a dignified and significant hint to
political rivals that we do not intend to allow our hard-won and honourable
position of predominance in these latitudes to be seriously encroached upon or
menaced by the ambitions of any other Power.
At present the Sultan is away, and in any case is just now in an exceed
ingly anxious frame of mind regarding the internal affairs of Oman : it would
therefore^ be better, I think, for me to wait until I hear from you again that
the tour is difinitely decided upon before I make any communication to His
Highness on the subject.
That he will give the Viceroy a cordial welcome I have not the slightest
doubt, but from past experience I know that the first sentiment that will possess
him will be the not unnatural fear of his own inability to do justice to so "reat
an occasion. I say this because three years ago when he heard that & the
Viceroy was about to visit Karachi he at first thought of inviting His Excel- *
lency to come on here, but subsequently frightened himself out of the idea by
the fear that Maskat and its resources were not meet for the reception of a
Viceroy. Such no doubt will be his first feeling on the present occasion but
the knowledge that His Excellency will also visit other unpretentious centres
of interest in the Gulf will, at all events, help to dispel it, and I have every
hope that Saiyid Feisal will rise to the occasion as far as in him lies. ^
I beg now to refer to some of the questions of detail that you mention or
that occur to me.
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