Skip to item: of 1,061
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎305v] (609/949)

This item is part of

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.

Apply page layout

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Progs. No.
Letters, etc., and subjects.
Page
837
Telegram from His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, No. 51, dated
the 21st March 1004, stating that his note about Henjara is ready
for presentation and will be delivered as soon as a ship has started
from Karachi.
45
838
Telegram to Rear-Admiral Atkinson-Willes, No. 947-E.A., dated the
22nd March 1904, suggesting that a gunboat should proceed to
Bunder Abbas to prevent interference in landing a cable at Henjam.
45
839
Telegram to the Commissioner in Sind, Karachi, No. 948-E.A., dated the
22 nd March 1904, requesting him to communicate certain instruc
tions to the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, regarding the Henjam
telegraph.
45
840
Enclosure in a letter from the Secretary, Political Department, India
Office, No. 10, dated the 4 th March 1904, regarding the establish
ment of a telegraph station at Henjam.
45
sn
Telegram to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , No. 957-E.A ,
dated the 23rd March 1904, stating that instructions have been
issued for a gunboat to proceed to Bunder Abbas to be at hand if
required, and that Persian Government will only be informed alter the
boat has started.
46
842
From the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, Karachi, No. 271, dated the
19th March 1904, explaining the difficulties in establishing telegra
phic communication at very short notice with Henjam as desired.
46
348
Telegram from the Commissioner in Sind, dated the 28rd March 1904,
repeating a message from the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs,
stating that it is impossible, at present, to lay the cable, and that
the material which was asked for by telegraph has not yet been
shipped from England. Adding that until it is received, his stock of
cable is insufficient to make the connection with Henjam.
46
844
Telegram to the Commissioner in Sind, No 981-E.A., dated the 25th
March 1904, communicating orders.
46
345—346
Enclosure in a letter from the 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. , No. 9, dated the 2 f th Feb
ruary 1904, regarding the cost of the establishment of a telegraph
station at Henjam.
47—48
347
Telegram from the Commissioner in Sind, dated the 27th March 1904,
communicating his views regarding the cable to Henjam.
48
348
Letter from Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, No. 278, dated the 23rd
March 1904, reporting that the material necessary for the manufac
ture of the cables required will be shipped as early as possible.
49
349
Telegram to the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, No. 1008-E.A., dated
the 29th March 1904, stating that the Eastern Extension Company
can provide 60 knots deep sea, 10 knots intermediate, and usual shore
end cable. Asking whether there is any objection to taking cable
from them.
49
850
Telegram from the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, Karachi, dated the
30th March 1904, enquiring where the cable which the Eastern hxten-
sion Company can supply now is. Recommending a connection to
the south end of the Henjam Island.
50
351
Telegram to the Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs, No. 1026-E.A.,
dated the 31st March 1904, replying to the above.
50

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
Cite this item in your research

‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎305v] (609/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x00000a> [accessed 11 July 2026]

Link to this item
Embed this item

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_100093227831.0x00000a">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [&lrm;305v] (609/949)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x00000a">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0622.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

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

Use and reuse
Download this image