![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎284r] (566/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0579.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎284r] (566/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [284r] (566/949)
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.
I '*
kz
V-
Memo. No. 1171, dated Hyacinth at Bushire, the 2nd December 1903.
From—The Commander-in-Chief, East Indies,
To —The Seeretary to the Government of India in the Fore gn Department.
Forwarded for the information of His Excellency the Viceroy and Gover
nor-General of India.
Gm
Memo. No. 1171, dated Bushire, the 2 nd December 1903.
From—The Commander-in-Chief, East Indies,
To—The Commanding Officer, H.M.S. Fox.
Being in all respects ready, yon will leave this port this evening in H. M.
ship under your command and proceed to Pasni, so as to arrive there by
daylight on 6th December.
2. Your mail due at Bushire on 4 th December will be sent to you by the
Uardinge.
3 . On the arrival of His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of
India at Pasni in the Sardinge, you will fire a salute of 31 guns, and you will
dress ship and man ship on His Excellency's arrival and departure.
4 . You are to fire any salutes for Native Chiefs, and at the
Durbar
A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
, that
the Viceroy may request.
5 . On the departure of the Hardinge with His Excellency on board, you
are to proceed to Bombay.
Proposed visit of His Excellency the Viceroy
to Maskat and the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
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.
, London,
6th November 1903 .
Secret,
No. 34 .
To His Excellency the Right Honourable the Governor-General of y/^
India in Council.
My Lord,
I have received Your Excellency’s letter (Secret), No. 148 , of the 17 th
September, on the subject of the visit
which you are undertaking to Maskat and
the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. Your intention to make •
this tour was known to His Majesty’s Government, and I have now to convey
to Your Excellency the formal approval for which you ask.
2 . The object of your visit is to inspect the Indian establishments that are
maintained in those parts, to visit the Arab Sheikhs who are in treaty relations
with the British Government, and to show by your presence the intention of
His Majesty’s Government to maintain a political and commercial ascendency
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. You state that it is possible that at no point of your
journey will any but conventional declarations or assurances be required, but
that, if it should appear to you in any instance that a modification of the
existing arrangements and undertakings is necessary, you will refer your pro
posals to me after consulting with the Resident in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
3. His Majesty’s Government have no doubt that the effect of your visit to
the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
will be to strengthen British interests in that quarter. At the
same time they feel assured that Your Excellency will recognise the disadvan
tages which might result from any impression that it indicates an intention
on the part of His Majesty’s Government to alter the status quo in the Gulf
and at Maskat, as defined by international engagements.
4 . Your Excellency’s position, both at Maskat and Koweit, will un
doubtedly be one of special difficulty. At Maskat, as you state, the status of
the Sultan is so defined by treaty that any modification of it depends on the
consent of the other Powers concerned in His Highness’s country. At Koweit
it appears to me inevitable that the Sheikh will be anxious to receive from Your
1950 F. D.
T>
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [284r] (566/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a7> [accessed 29 June 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a7
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a7">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎284r] (566/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000a7"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0579.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- 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