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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [340v] (679/949)
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.
4
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Abbas, and is of value for other departmental and technical reasons, does not
fulfil all the requirements of the case, and we therefore ask permission of the
Persian Government to link it at our own expense, if necessary, across the island
of Kishm with the port of Bunder Abbas, distant 40 to 50 miles to the north,
an arrangement which would be of great benefit to Persian as well as British
interests
It is possible that the Persian Government may express surprise at our
having, after so long an interval, re-opened a station in their territory without
previous consultation with them. It will not, however, be difficult to dispose of
any arguments which they may use to this effect. Whether they will consent
to the° extension to Bunder Abbas or not, I cannot hazard a definite opinion,
but I should think they could probably be persuaded to do so, if they see us
already in possession at Henjam. They would, of course, much prefer that
there should be no telegraph station at either place, but the existence of one
at Henjam would, I think, rather weaken their objection to the extension of
the cable for so short a distance as 40 miles to Bunder Abbas.
Mr. Barker is of opinion that the re-opening of the station at Henjam
should, if possible, be deferred till the end of the hot weather, till the latter
part of September or beginning of October.
I have the honour to be, with the highest respect,
My Lord,
Your Lordship’s most obedient, humble servaut,
Arthur H. Hardinge.
The Marquess of Lansdowne, K.G.,
&c., &c., &c.
. Vw? -0 S
No. 872, dated Colombo, the 2nd July 1903 (Confidential).
From—His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Drury, K.C.I.E., Commander-
in-Chief, East Indian Station,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Military (Marine) Department.
With reference to your telegram of 29 th April last, I have the honour to
forward herewith, for the information of His Excellency the Governor-General
in Council, a tracing of a survey of the anchorage between Henjam and
Xishm.
2. Commanders Thomas W. Kemp and Boyle T. Somerville state in
their report:—
“ * * * We do not consider Henjam Island a suitable place
for a defended establishment. The amount of anchorage protected from the
prevailing winds is very small, and the holding ground bad. The tidal streams
are said to run 3 knots at springs. It is open to attack on two sides.
“To improve the harbour by means of engineering works would be
difficult, and, in our opinion, not worth the labour and expense
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’ [340v] (679/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000050> [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