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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [360r] (718/949)
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.
No. 16 Of 1904.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
S EGRET.
External.
To
The Right IIon’ble St. JOHN BRODRICK,
His Majesty's Secretary of State for India.
Fort William, the 21st January 1904.
Sir,
Burin? the recent tour of His Excellency the Viceroy in the Persian
Gulf in the company of the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Rear-Admiral Atkmson-
Willes the question of the selection of naval positions m the Gulf, which has
greatly occupied the attention both of His Majesty’s Government and of the
Government of India in recent years, was carefully considered by Their
Excellencies. In company they visited and examined all the principal ports,
harbours, or anchorages in those waters, and aiTived at conclusions respecting
them which the Naval Commander-in-Chief has already reported to the
Admiralty in a letter, dated 8 th December, copy of which was sent to us and is
forwarded herewith. The enclosures to this despatch also contain a corre-
spondence “ssed between the Government of India and the Admiral on
the same subject, while the squadron was still in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
2. Prom this correspondence it will be seen that the subjects under
examination fell under three heads
(i) The selection of suitable naval bases or coaling stations at the
entrance to the Gulf.
(ii) The choice of a telegraph station either at Henjam or Bassidore
(Basiduh).
(in) The features and potentialities of the various Thors or maritime
^ ^ inlets at the upper end of the Gulf, to which it seems likely that
trans-Turkish or trans-Persian Railways may be taken at some
future date.
3 We propose to address you in the present despatch on the first two
of these suhiects . 1 We will reserve the third for a further communication, only
mentioning on the present occasion that, in paragraph 51 of his letter to
Z Admiralty, Rear-Admiral Atkinson-Willes has been under a mis
apprehension. No fresh steps in the nature of establishing a protectorate
over the Sheikh of Koweit have been taken by the Government of India, and
no dimctiom oFthe character named have been issued to him. The subject is
no directions . ,, f ur ther despatch that has been promised. But
taken.
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’ [360r] (718/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000077> [accessed 20 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- 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