![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎310r] (618/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0631.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎310r] (618/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [310r] (618/949)
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.
Captain Grey came to say good-bye. I have told him that it is now proposed, mainly for
naval considerations, to land the cable at Bassidore instead of Henjam, and have asked him to
tell the Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs at Karachi, this, so that he may be prepared if
necessary, to arrange to lay the cable at short notice. *
Captain Grey says that his jurisdiction at present only extends to Bunder Abbas, Larak
This point will be looked np. and Hormuz. I have asked him to discuss
the question with Major Cox and Colonel
Kemball. I understand that, in Your Excellency^ opinion, it is desirable to show that Ras
Mussandim, Elphinstone Inlet, and the Hinterland outside the Trucial Chiefs' territories are not
under Maskat, and the best way of doing this would, perhaps, be to place the promontory under
the Assistant Resident at Bunder Abbas, who could also be put in charge of Abu Musa and
Tanb. His Consular jurisdiction might well be extended to include all the Persian islands in
the east end of the Gulf with Lingah and, perhaps, Jask. One of the three gun-boats to be
stationed in the Gulf ought to have its head-quarters at Bassidore, and the Assistant Resident
and Vice-Consul could visit his jurisdiction in her.
If we are to land a cable at Bassidore, we ought to have some more responsible person
than a
Native Agent
Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government.
there to meet possible moves on the part of the Persian Government.
Captain Grey has heard from a native correspondent that a Russian Vice-Consul is coming
to Bunder Abbas, and from the Belgian Customs officer, with whom he is on friendly terms,
that the quarantine arrangements there have been made over to him. This latter piece of
Yes. intelligence might be telegraphed to London and
C [ubzon] . Tehran. The file will be separately submitted.
I have also asked Captain Grey to point out to the Commander of the gun-boat that an
officer of the Royal Indian Marine reported a deep channel to Bassidore running up the south
west coast of Kishm, and that this ought to be carefully examined. I submit this note for
information and approval to Your Excellency. Captain Grey leaves shortly for Bunder Abbas
and now wishes to remain in the Political Department.
L. W. Dane, —8-8-03.
I agree generally.
C[urzon], —8-8-03.
Foreign Office Press—No. 1100—17»9*03—30.
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’ [310r] (618/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000013> [accessed 20 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000013
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_100093227831.0x000013">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎310r] (618/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000013"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0631.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