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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [289r] (576/949)
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.
S&Glesttrrtl*
Address It) His Excellency the Viceroy at a Public
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).
held on board
S. M. S. “ Argonaut ” at Muscat on the 19 th November 1903 , for His
Highness the Sultan and the notables of Muscat.
Yonr Highness, Your Excellency, and Gentlemen— Your Highness has
already addressed me yesterday in terms of warm welcome to your Capital and
State; and. to-day you have anticipated much of what I desired to say in the
speech w hich you have just spontaneously delivered, and in which you have
spoken in feeling language of the historic connection between the British
Government and the State of Oman.
It was Your Highness’s own greatgrandfather with whom the first Treaty
was concluded with the l ast India Company 105 years ago. As you have
reminded me, for more than a century has a British representative been
stationed at iluscat, and during that time the friendly intercourse between the
two Governments has been demonstrated by a series of Treaties or Conventions
of which I can trace no .fewer than nine, and which have provided for the
closest political and.commercial relations, as w r ell as for the suppression of the
slai e tiade and of piracy, and for the extension of the electric telegraph. This
series of agreements suliiciently testifies to the connections that have grown up
between the two Governments, and that have linked the State of Oman to the
British Government by quite exceptional ties. But they have also been
strengthened, as Your Highness has pointed out, by the support which has been
given on critical occasions by the British Government to successive rulers of
Oman ; while a further and natural bond of union is supplied by the fact that
Muscat lies jest opposite to the shores of India, that its trade is not only for the
most part with India, but is largely in Indian hands, that a large number of
British Indian subjects reside, here, and that the prosperity of the State is
mainly dependent on these conditions. It is not surprising, therefore, that the
Government of India should feel a particular interest in this place, or that a
v iceroy of India should, desire to visit it and to make the acquaintance of its
ruler. His pleasure in doing so is greatly enhanced when he learns from Your
Highness s own lips that you and your children will ever be mindful of these
strong and ancient obligations, and that to them you and they will always remain
loyal, these are words vhich I shall cherish in friendly recollection not only
on my own behalf, but on behalf of the Government which I represent.
Your Highness has now ruled your State for fifteen years. I had the
pleasure of lisiting it when you had only just succeeded fourteen years ago; and
I am glad to congratulate Your Highness on the progress that has since been
made. I he volume of your trade is steadily increasing; the wise step which the
Government of India so strongly unred on Your Highness a few years ago, of
taking over the Customs of your State in preference to farming them toothers,
has been attended with largely increased profits; and it gave me much satisfac-
Hon two years ago, with Your Highness’s permission, to bring your Capital into
still closer connection with the outer world by laying a telegraphic cable from Jask
to Ilus.cat. I also personally selected Major Cox, as an officer in w r hose discretion
and ability I had perfect confidence, to represent the Government of India at
your Capital ; and lour Highness has already assured me that you have found
m mm a prudent counsellor and friend.
At Delhi in January last, though Your Highness was unable yourself to
accept my invitation to the great ceremony that we held there to celebrate the
Coronation of His Majesty the King-Emperor, I had the pleasure of welcoming
your son, laimur, and of conversing with him about the condition and welfare of
Oman.
I. have referred to the fact that the British Government have extended a
peculiar measure of protection in the past to the State of Oman and its rulers.
Ihey have, on more than one occasion, intervened to save it from rebellion or
disruption. Your Highness may rest assured that this policy will not be
departed from. So long as the rulers of Oman continue to observe their Treaty
engagements to the Government of India, and to administer this State with
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’ [289r] (576/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000b1> [accessed 16 July 2026]
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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