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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [327r] (652/949)
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
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[ 27 ]
Enclo^uee in a lettkk, from the Secretary. Political Department,
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. 3
DATED THE 15TH JaNUARX (RECEIVED 3kD PeBuCARY) 1904-.
Memorandum 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.
to the Foreign Office forwarding a copy of a telegram from
the Secretary of Slate to the Viceroy, of the 28th October 1903, relative to the extension
of
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
telegraphs. '
(1) The Admiral's letter, with enclosure, regarding Khor Kawi, is for orders. Please
see our Secret despatch to the Secretary of State, No. 16 (External), dated the 21st January
1904. A copy of the present letter may be sent either by despatch, or with the Secretary's
weekly letter, to the Secretary of State. The latter will, perhaps, be sufficient.
(2) The draft to the Resident about the Henjam salt caves is for approval.
H. P. C.,—8-2.1904.
The Admiral's communication with the enclosed report by Captain Kemp may be for
warded to the Secretary of State with a brief covering despatch. I put up a draft for
approval. It would be well for an advance copy to go to 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.
by this week's mail,
in order that the consideration of the despatch of the 21st January 1904 may not be delayed for
want of confirmatory evidence regarding Khor Kawi.
L, Russell,-9-2-1904.
Draft may be approved, but I agree that a copy of this report should go by this mail.
C. H. Hill,—9-2-1904.
It is not quite satisfactory that Captain Kemp should have mentioned the Sultan of
Maskat's Wali at Kamzar, though he was bound to do this. Let me have the chart of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
showing Kamzar and any further information we have about it. We knew
that there was a Wali at Khasab. A copy of Captain Kemp's letter can go home to-morrow
with Secretary's letter. Probably the Admiralty have already got it. If necessary we can
telegraph about Kamzar.
L. W. Dane,— 10-2-1904.
Memorandum showing that a copy of the Admiral's letter No. 1171 , dated the 19 th 55 /
January 1904 , with enclosures was transmitted with Secretary’s weekly letter
No. 6-M., dated the 11 th February 1904 , to 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.
.
Secretary's note overleaf.
The chart of the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
showing Kamzar is placed in the file.
* Secret E., November 1902, Nos. 7*21. . Information received previously about Kamzar
is contained in paragraph lQ of Major Cox’s
report* of the 2nd July 1902,
J. R. R.,—11-2-1904.
H. P. C.,—11-2-1904.
L. Russell,— 11-2-1904.
C. H. Hill,— 12-2-1904.
It is clear from Captain Kemp's report that Khor Kawi will make an excellent flying
base. The Sultan of Maskat's claims on Kamzar are very shadowy, and Kamzar itself is some
distance off and round the corner from Khor Kawi. I submit a draft despatch for approval.
L. W. Dane,— 13-2-1904.
C[urzon],— 20-2-1904.
Dated Calcutta, the 29th February 1904.
From—I. W. Dane, Esq., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department
To— Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, C.I.E., Officiating Political Kesident in the Persian
Gulf.
Please refer to the demi-official correspondence ending with your letter of the 4th Janu
ary 1904 about Henjam.
I forward herewith an extract from Mr. E. A. Floyer’s book 11 Unexplored Baluchistan "
published in 1882, in which he speaks of salt caves at Henjam.
Apparently even in 1876 the salt on the island was not worked to any extent.
Will you kindly mention this to Trevor and send me his report after he has made further
enquiries to verify what are the real facts of the case? He can probably find out if salt was
worked on Henjam and when the workings were dropped.
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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- 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