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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎282r] (562/949)

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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. .

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39
■*.
& *
and proceed at any time of the day or night. In this respect it is in every way
superior as a telegraph station to Basidhu, which is difficult of approach.
Although Kubbat Gazira (Malcolm Inlet) and Khor Ash Shem (Elphin-
stone Inlet) are both large, deep water inlets, capable of sheltering a fleet
they are quite unsuitable for our purposes. Yet they must not fall "'into the
hands of any other country.
M ith Kishm, Bunder Abbas, and Henjaro in telegraphic communication
with Khor Kavvi, the suggested naval station, the entrance of the Gulf would
he in a strong strategic position.'
GEOKGE ATKINSON "WILLES,
Rear-Admiral, Commander-in- Chief.
(Received with letter from Secretary, Rolitical and Secret Department, d
No. 43 , dated the 4 th October 1903 .)
[Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter of 7th October 1903.]
From Sir A. Hardinge, Tehran, to the Foreign Office.
Telegraphic. October 1903 .
No. 128 .
Viceroy wishes me to meet him at Bunder Abbas on November 22nd and
I can easily do this. Only difficulty is that Resident at Bushire, who has to
proceed before meeting His Excellency to the Arab coast and Maskat to make
arrangements for his reception, wants the Lawrence for this purpose.
He suggests that the Sphinx might take me from Bushire about Nov
ember 15 th or November 16 th and convey me to Bunder Abbas independently
of him. Could you arrange this or something like it with Admiralty ?
I addressed Persian Government on receipt of your telegram Nc. 90 ,
respecting Viceroy’s tour, but said nothing inconsistent with your telegram.
//6
No. 47-C., dated Viceroy's Camp, the 27th November 1903 (Confidential).
From The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department,
To Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, C.I.E., Officiating Political Itesident in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I am directed to forward, for record and communication to the Political
Agent at Maskat, a copy of a note on the private interview which was granted
by His Excellency the Viceroy to His Highness the Sultan of Maskat on the
19 th November 1903 .
No. 1171, dated Hyacinth at Koweit, the 28th November 1903 (Confidential).
From— Rear-Admiral George Atkinson Willes, Commander-in Chief, East Indies,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
Eorwarded for the information of His Excellency the Viceroy and
Governor-General of India.
//s
PEOGRAMME.
Arrive. Place.
Leave.
Koweit . .
. 10 p.m., Sunday, 29th Novem
ber.
6 a. At., Monday, 30th Novem- Entrance Khor Abdulla
. 6 a.m., Monday, 30th Novem
ber.
ber.
11-30 Am Kasr .
Midnight . . - .00 Khor Musa.
. 1 P.M.
Entrance Khor Musa
6 a.m., Tuesday, 1st Decem
ber.
11 a.m. Tuesday, 1st Decern- Anchorage No. 1
. Noon, Tuesday, 1st December.
ber.
About 6 p.m.
f Rendezvous —
■j Latitude 29°48'N.
(. Longitude 49° 8'E.
1
j
GEORGE ATKINSON M ILLE^, Rear-Admiral,
CommanderAn^Chief, East Indies.
The 28th November 1903.

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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
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎282r] (562/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a3> [accessed 30 June 2026]

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