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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [329v] (657/949)
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.
31
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 Guilf, No. 957-E. A., dated hie 23 ud
March 1904.
Slates that instructions have been issued for a gun-boat to proceed to Bunder
Abbas to be at hand if required and that Persian Government will only
be informed after the boat has started.
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 19 th ^received
Jr* Vo * *^01 if 2**
28 rd) March 1901 .
Refers to Foreign Department letter So. 855 -E. A., dated the 19 th Maxell
1904 , and explains the difficulties in establishing telegraphic communica
tion at very short notice with Ben jam as desired.
52 ^ Telegram from the Commissioner in Sind, dated the 23 rd (received 21 th) March 1904 .
Repeats a message from the Director, Rersian Gulf Telegraphs, stating that
it is impossible, at present, to lay the cable, and that the material which
icas asked for by telegraph has not yet been shipped from England. Adds
that until it is received, his stock of cable is insufficient to make the
connection with Eenjam.
Two new receipts are submitted for orders. It appears to have been understood that M r.
Whitby Smith bad the cable ready, and that all be had to do was to order cable from England
to complete bis reserve. He was asked on the '29th January 1901, to do tins. Thcie seems to
be no help for it now but to wait until the materials are received from England. In the
meantime Sii-A. Hardinge should be informed of the position of affairs. He will have to
withhold his note to the Persian Government. The Admiral also must he informed, with
reference to our telegram of the 23rd March, that a gun-boat will not at present be required.
2. As regards the telegraph building, please see the collection marked on the margin, and
page 9 of the current notes. A suitable building
is estimated to cost about Rs. 8,500. But, in the
Secret E., July 1903, 192-214 (No- 203).
circumstances, can the house he erected first without the cable being first connected to Henjam ?
We may, however, obtain Financial sanction if Public Works Department agree.
H. P. C.,—21-3-01.
The record of the case of this cable is as follows :—
On loth August Mr. Whitby Smith reported that (to connect Bassidore) 68 knots were
required and “1 have sufficient cable and material instock here to lay this if one month's
notice is given/’
On 92nd August that 81 knots required and that p< ssibily if urgently required I could
make a temporary connection after one month’s notice.”
On 6l/i December he told Secretary that it would take less cable to connect Henjam than
Bassidore. He had sixty knots which might suffice and expected thirty more from England.
I put up a draft to Mr. Whitby Smith as you desired.
C. H. Hill.
24-3-01.
Issue the telegram and then let Finance Department see as expenditure is involved.
It is not yet settled if His Majesty’s Government bear half.
L. W. Dane.
25-3-04.
Lu Telegram to the Commissioner in Sind, Karachi, No. 981 E. A., dated the 25 th
March 1901 .
Requests him to inform the Director, Rersian Gulf Telegraphs, that the question
of laying the cable to. Henjam is of serious political importance and that
arrangements are in progress in reliance on his previous estimates.
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’ [329v] (657/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x00003a> [accessed 3 July 2026]
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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