‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [281r] (560/949)
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.
37
the Mushir-ed-Dowleh on the subject of the Viceroy of India’s approaching
■ visit to the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
I have not yet been able to see His Excellency, uho is full of business
connected with the formation of the new Government, on this subject, but
shall do so and report the result of my interview with him as soon as possible.
I have the honour to be, with the highest respect,
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient, humble servant,
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
etc., etc., etc.
A. H. HAEHINGE.
Gulahek, //o // J
26 th September 1903 .
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that His Excellency, the
Viceroy of India, proposes, under orders from the Government of His Majesty
the King-Emperor, to pay, in the course of November next, an official visit to
the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. He will be accompanied by a British Naval Squadron.
The Viceroy’s primary object is to visit the various Arab States on the
southern shore of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, whose Chiefs are, as Your Excellency is
aware, in special relations with the Government of India, and to inspect the
British Consulates and Political Agencies maintained by it in that part of Asia.
But His Excellency is anxious also, as a matter of courtesy to the Government
of His Imperial Majesty the Shah, not to omit, during the course of his tour
in the Gulf, a visit to the principal Persian ports on the northern shore of that
sea, in which, moreover, the Government of India has important political and
commercial interests.
I feel sure that the Persian Government will desire to mark its friendly
relations with that of His Imperial Majesty the King-Emperor by affording on
this occasion, at Bushire and other Persian ports at which the Viceregal
squadron will call, special evidences of respect and good-will to His Excellency
the Viceroy, who is His Majesty’s most exalted representative on the Asiatic
Continent. It will indeed, I believe, see in the visit which His Excellency is
paying, by His Majesty’s commands, to the shores of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, a fresh
proof of the determination of the British Government to maintain its rights and
interests, which are in harmony with those of His Majesty the Shah, in that
region, and to consolidate the good understanding wdiich has for so many years
happily existed between the two neighbouring Empires.
I shall take an early occasion of discussing with Your Excellency the
details of the reception to be accorded on behalf of His Majesty the Shah to
His Excellency the Viceroy of India at Bushire and such other Persian ports as
he may visit.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,
A. H. HARBIN GE.
His Excellency
Mushir-ed-Dowleh,
His Imperial Majesty’s Minister for Eoreign Affairs,
etc., etc., etc.
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’ [281r] (560/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a1> [accessed 17 August 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
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