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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [270r] (538/949)
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.
15
sent off his son on the arrival of the ships to enquire after the Viceroy’s health
and ascertain his wishes. I do not know if the Chief’s visit will be returned
by Lord Curzon, but I presume not, and that the procedure adopted at Bahrein
will be followed. His Excellency will, I presume, wish to land at Koweit and
will be taken round by the Chief.
The political situation at Koweit is well known, and I find it difficult to
make any suggestions as to the modification or expansion of the status quo
which will not be, I believe, under the circumstances feasible. At any rate, I
take it that it will be useless for the Sheikh to make any request for the ex
pansion of the protectorate which is probably what he would like to see.
Bushire will be reached on the early morning of the 2 nd December. The
Hardinge and the Squadron will have to anchor in the outer roads at a distance
of 7 miles from the landing place. I presume that the first ceremony here
will be the Governor’s visit to His Excellency the Viceroy on board the
Ilardinge. I do not know what time will be convenient for this visit, but
I think as early an hour as possible might be fixed, as the weather in the
morning is generally calmer than later on in the day. A launch will have to
be sent in to bring the Governor off and my First Assistant will accompany
him. Koweit to Bushire is 180 miles, so there should be no difficulty about
the Squadron reaching Bushire and anchoring at 7 a.m. A launch could be
sent off on arrival in time to leave Bunder at 9 a.m. so as to reach the
Hardinge at 10 .
Whether the Viceroy would return the Governor’s visit, I cannot say.
There is no precedent to go by, and I am somewhat doubtful about it. Perhaps
as the visit need not be returned until the following morning, His Excellency
will decide this matter after consultation with Sir Arthur Hardinge. I would
also like to know His Excellency’s wishes regarding his stay at Bushire,
whether he will visit the
Residency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India.
and will hold a reception of the European
community. I should be greatly obliged if you could let me hear about this
as soon as possible. I am leaving Bushire probably about the 18 th of this
month to visit Koweit, Bahrein, and the Arab Coast for the purpose of arrang
ing details, and I shall be back in Bushire before the end of the month. I
leave again on the 12th November to meet His Excellency at Maskat.
I have now dealt, as far as I can, with all the places in the Gulf which will
be visited. I must ask you to pardon me if my suggestions are not sufficiently
precise ; but as you will understand, there are no precedents to go on, and I
myself have had no experience in the way of making arrangements for a
Viceroy’s visit. The smooth working of the programme will depend to a great
extent upon the weather, and I trust that we shall be favoured in this respect
during His Excellency’s tour.
You will observe that I have said nothing about Maskat. Cox’s sugges
tions made in his letter to you appear to be suitable, and I can think of nothing
to add.
Telegram, dated the 19th October 1903.
From— Sir A. Hardinge, Tehran,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla.
Please see my telegram of the 10 th October. The Shah has deputed the
Governor-General of Ears to proceed to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
to welcome Your
Excellency on behalf of His Majesty. His Excellency will meet you at
Bunder Abbas. What is the correct etiquette as to official visits and salutes
when His Excellency the Viceroy is in foreign territory, for example, at
Pondicherry or Goa, for which there are precedents, I suppose ? Does Your
Excellency contemplate any exchange of decorations ? It might not be a bad
thing to give one to the" Ala-ed-Dowleh, who is a possible future Grand
Vizier. He has been rather sore at getting no recognition from us for the
support he gave us some years ago when Governor of Arabistan. I start on the
27 th of October. Please let me know about this before then.
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’ [270r] (538/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x00008b> [accessed 6 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