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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [290v] (579/949)
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.
vv e were nere oeiore any other rower,
We found strife and
condition of the Gulf, are the answer. „ „ 11UiC uc
in modern times, had shown its face in these waters. ,, v, BLiJL i C miu
TVC h ?7 G ? rea ^ e( ^ °^ er - ^ was our commerce as well as your security that
was threatened and called for protection. At every port "along these coasts
the subjects of the King of England still reside and trade. The great Empire
ol India, which it is our duty to defend, lies almost at your gates. We
saved you from extinction at the hands of your neighbours. We opened these
seas to the ships of all nations, and enabled their flags to flv in peace We
have not seized or held your territory. We have not "destroyed’ your
independence but have preserved it. We are not now going to throw "awav this
century of costly and triumphant enterprise; we shall not wipe out the most
unselfish page m history. The peace of these waters must still be maintained •
jour independence will continue to be upheld; and the influence of the -British
Government must remain supreme.
rr ^ ere . on ® res P cc t in which the Chiefs themselves can avert anv renewal
of trouble in the future. The British Government have no desire to interfere
and have never interfered, in your internal affairs, provided that the Chiefs
residS- therefnH^f m Wlth J usti f ;. and res P e ct the rights of the foreign traders
1 zny internal disputes occur, you will always tind a friend
t e British Resident, who will use his influence, as he has frequently done in
the past, to prevent these dissensions from coming to a head, and to maintain
i f °i r W r COllld , n0t a PP r °v e of one independent Chief attacking
ohei Chief by land, simply because he was not permitted to do it bv sea and
thus evading the spirit of his Treaty obligations. 1 will mention a casp'tW
seems to lend itself to friendly settlement of the character that I have described
Ton aie all of you aware that the strip of coast known as the Batineh Coast on*
the opposite side of the Oman Peninsula, is under the authority of the Chief of
the Jonasmis Nevertheless his authority is contested in some" quarters It is
uXtuAed diS1>UteS Sll0UM CeaS °’ aud the peace should remain
and
none of jou has ever seen or will ever see his face • hnf In’c /Wi 1 ■ ,
andTP^tT t,lr ° U " h r t his Tast domirii OM bv the’officem of W 8 Go 8 ™™!
tW f I"! 8 r P r Se f tatlV ? ln Jn(lia who is responsible to him for your welfare
-dVo With ^ t0 — 0W
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’ [290v] (579/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227830.0x0000b4> [accessed 30 June 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