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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [272v] (543/949)
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.
*
20
from—
To—L.
JU / - J] Date(] Maskatj tlie gBth October 1903.
Majok P. Z, Cox, C.I.E.,
Political Agent
A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency.
at Maskat,
W. Dane, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign
Department.
I forward herewith copy of a draft address given rae by the ^Native British
subjects for transmission to Government for approval or amendation.
The words which I have underlined in red pencil might, I suggest, be left
out if anything is likely to come of the Sultan’s suggestion of abdication, as it
might hurt his feelings a little when he sees it afterwards in the newspaper.
DO 9
If, on the other hand, no action in the near future is possible on his pro
posal for
projection
Any method by which the earth’s curved surface may be transposed (or projected) on to a flat surface.
, then it might stand. There is some truth in it, though
the Sultan, in my opinion, does what he cen. The fact is that the bunnias lend
money and give long credit recklessly to Arabs of the interior and expect a
miracle to be performed to get it back.
Kindly send me a telegram as to whether the form is approved or not as it
has to go to Karachi to be engrossed or printed. It will be properly presented in
a casket.
77 Draft of Address which British Indian subjects desired to ‘present to His
0 Jj ^ Excellency the Viceroy.
To His Excellency the Bight Hon’ble Baron Curzon oe Kedleston,
Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
May it please Your Excellency,
We, the entire community of British subjects, both Hindu and Muham*
madan, and other British protected persons, settled in the towns of Maskat and
Muttra, most respectfully beg, on behalf of ourselves and our fellow-subjects
residing in other parts of His Highness the Sultan’s dominions, to offer Your
Excellencies a most heartfelt welcome on the occasion of your visit to Maskat.
In doing so, we venture to congratulate Your Excellency with much
respect, on being the first Viceroy and Governor-General of India since the
passing of the destinies of the Indian Continent to the British Crown, to visit
these distant shores, and to have thus inaugurated a new and vigorous political
departure in a sphere where so many Indian interests are involved, and it hns
been a source of enhanced gratification to us to know, that since Your Excel
lency’s happy decision to accept an extension of your term of office (a decision
which has been received by all classes of His Majesty the King-Emperor’s
subjects with lively satisfaction) the first great act of policy which Your Excel
lency has undertaken, has been this most auspicious tour in the Gulfs of Oman
and Persia.
Accustomed, as the races peopling these shores are, to take impressions from
outward appearances, we cannot but feel confident that this happy undertaking
will prove to be an epoch-making event in the progress and enhancement of
British prestige and influence. It will serve, too, as an abiding demonstration
to the inhabitants of the littoral that the preponderating influence of Great
Britain in these waters is no shadowy or remote force, but a lively and digni
fied reality, and that the Viceroy of the King Emperor who holds benevolent
sway, over the millions of the vast continent of British India, watches with no
less zeal and keen interest the welfare of His Most Gracious Majesty’s subjects,
scattered all over the Gulf.
Except to give Your Excellencies a respectful and hearty welcome and to
give expression to our loyalty and devotion to the Great Government whose
subjects we are, we have little cause to trespass on Your Excellency’s time, and
so far as our own local and particular needs and circumstances are concerned
have an encouraging tale to tell.
We enjoy in Maskat the rights and privileges of the most favoured nation,
our interests are carefully guarded by our Consular authorities, and we expe
rience complete toleration in matters of religion. There is an absence of un
necessary litigation amongst us British subjects, and justice is readily and
promptly obtainable in the
Agency
An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
Court.
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’ [272v] (543/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x000090> [accessed 11 July 2026]
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F111/359/1
- Title
- ‘Persia – especially Seistan’
- Pages
- 272v:273r
- Author
- Unknown
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