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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎333r] (664/949)

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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. .

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FBftHGN DEPARTMENT.
NOTES.
AGGRiESSIVE ACTION OF .THE PERSIANS AT TAMB AND ABU MUSA
HOISTING OF PERSIAN FLAG ON THE ISLAND OF TAMB.
Telegram from 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. , dated the 10th (received J~uo^’u c . ->/r
11th Apuil) 1904. ' ^
States that the Pei'sian flag has been hoisted on the island of Tamb, where
two Persian Tufangchis have been appointed as guards, and that informa
tion has also been received of the appointment of guards at Abu Musa.
Telogram, datod the 11th April 1904.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Simla,
To—The Private Secretary to the Viceroy, Viceroy’s Camp.
Kemball telegraphs 10th April as follows]:— Begins. (t Having received information
******* not repeated this telegram to Tehran. Ends.
Telegram from—The Foreign Secretary, Simla,
To—The Private Secretary to the Viceroy, Viceroy’s Camp.
In continuation of repetition of Kemhall’s telegram the following draft to Secretary of
State is suggested for Viceroy’s consideration :—Begins :
Following from Kemball:— Begins. Having received information # * * Arab flag
being reinstated. Ends. The flag of Sheikh of Shargah was formally hoisted in summer
of 1903 on Abu Musa and Tamb with approval of Government of India, vide papers forwarded
with Secretary’s letter 18th June 1903. We propose to request Admiral to send gunboat
with representative of Sheikh to haul down Persian flag and replace Arab colours and to
remove Persian guard to Persian territory. Please telegraph if you approve. This unwarrant
ed infringement of rights of British-protected Chief may prove useful in event of Persian
remonstrance regarding removal of flagstaff standing on plinth of old telegraph station at
Henjam, mentioned in paragraph 9 of our Despatch No. 16, Secret External, dated the 21st
January 1904.
Addressed Secretary of State for India; repeated to Tehran and to Naval Commander-in-
Chief, East Indies Station. Ends.
Papers about Abu Musa posted to-day.
Nothing could have occurred more opportunely than this act of Persian aggression on
Abu Musa and Tamb. I have always felt a little apprehension as to how our action in re
moving the pole, which the Moin-et-Tajar put up 12 years ago on the plinth of the old
Telegraph Office at Henjam, would be viewed. As the Persians have not hesitated to haul
down the flags of our protected Trucial Chiefs on these islands, without any reference to us, we
need not have any scruples about removing a pole, on which apparently no flag has been flown,
from the plinth of oar building.
' Immediate action will be necessary, and it will probably be desirable to secure the issue
of orders to the Commander of the Sphinx to proceed to Abu Musa and Tamb with a
representative of the Sheikh of Shargah and restore the trucial flags and remove the customs
guards before or after proceeding to Henjam. We should draft a telegram explaining how
and when the trucial flags were hoisted on Abu Musa and Tamb. W r e were only just in time
and suggesting for His Excellency’s consideration some such action as that noted above to be
taken with the concurrence of Secretary of State.

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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
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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎333r] (664/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000041> [accessed 9 August 2026]

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