‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [331r] (660/949)
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.
5 ?
- 84 "
Telegram from the Commissioner in Sind, dated the 4th (received 5 th) April ^ ^ 4
1904.
Repeats the reply of the Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs.
This telegram should be repeated to Viceroy’s Camp.
It should also, probably, be repeated to Tehran at once : hut I would surest tele
graphing to Mr. Whitby Smith (through Commissioner in Sind) that he should wire when
“ Patrick Stewart ” actually sails, and that in telegraphing to Sir A. Hardinge we should tell
him that the actual date of sailing will be communicated to him.
5-4-04.
C. H. Hill.
The file is not in Camp. I had to work there with only the last two telegrams as the file
was said to have been sent up here. What I require is the antecedent telegrams, especially Sir
A. Hardinge’s messages about the action to be taken to enable him to present his note to
the Shah. Please see if we have not got spare copies here. Every time we move there is a
bungle of this kind. We do not get papers at Calcutta because they have been sent to Simla
and on arrival here they are said to be in Camp or at Calcutta or somewhere else.
5-4-04.
L. W. Dane.
The file has arrived from Calcutta. Please see last communication from Sir A. Hardinge,
in which he asks us to let him know when the ship has left Karachi.
We should now telegraph—
(а) To Director-General,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraph, asking him to wire when the ship is
actually about to weigh anchor.
(б) To
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.
,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, repeating Directors reply of 4th.
(c) To Admiral Atkinson Willes advising him of the date of departure of the
“ Patrick Stewart/’
In (a) we should ask that the Commander of the “ Patrick Stewart ” be directed to communi
cate with officer commanding gun-boat if this is necessary.
After we get a reply to (a) we must telegraph to Sir A Hardinge.
Drafts below.
6 “ 1 " 04 - C. H. Hill.
Issue the telegram to Viceroy’s Camp and put the others, including that to Tehran, into
cypher so that they may issue as soon as we receive His Excellency’s orders.
6 - 4 - 04 .
L. W. Dane.
Telegram, dated the 6 th April 1904.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Simla,
To—Foreign with Viceroy, Viceroy’s Camp.
Director, Gulf Section, telegraphs “ Patrick Stewart ” will start about 8th instant, reaching
iienjam on 12th. Connection can be made in about three days. I propose to inform Hardino'e
accordingly and to issue necessary instructions to Admiral and Kemball. Exact date and hour
of starting will also be telegraphed to Tehran. Does Viceroy approve ?
Telegram, dated the 7th April 1901.
From—Foreign with Viceroy, Viceroy’s Camp, Panbari,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Simla.
Your telegram 6th April. Henjam cable. Viceroy approves.
Telegram to the Commissioner in Sind, No. 1054 -E. A., dated the 7 th April 1904 .
Directs him to instruct the Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs, to telegraph
the exact date and hour of starting of the “ Patrick Steieart. ”
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’ [331r] (660/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x00003d> [accessed 23 August 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
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