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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎369r] (736/949)

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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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1
Telegram No. 49, dated the 17th March 1904.
From Sir A. Harding*, His Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Tehran,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta.
Following sent to Secretary of Slate for Foreign Affairs.
The Prime Minister, whom I sounded about Bunder Abbas line without
men lomng Henjam, said he would gladly discuss the question. I shall send
m my note ,n a few day’s time, letting Viceroy know exactly when I do so
Ship should meanwhile be ready at a moment’s notice to start.
Telegram No. 51, dated the 21 st March 1904.
From-s™ A. Hardingi, K.C.M.G., C. B„ His Britannic Majesty’s Minister at
To—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta.
f «™ I ^ e a T n'- As S0 ? U as , 1 l' ear from y° u tliat the shi P } ' as actually started
from Karachi, my note, which is ready for presentation, will he delivered.
J^D ■ 'h-o- "b'h
Telegram No. 947-E. A., dated the 22nd March 1904.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta,
To Rear-Admiral Atkinson Willes, Naval Commander-in-Chief, East Indian
Squadron.
With sanction of His Majesty’s Government we are now arranging to land
cable at Henjam. To prevent possible local interference it would be well that
a gun-boat should proceed at once to Bunder Abbas to be at band if required
Captain, “ Patrick Stewart, ” will be directed to communicate with command
ing officer gun-boat in case of necessity. Please let us know what action is
taken.
Telegram No. 948-E. A., dated the 22 nd March 1904.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta,
To—The Commissioner in Sind, Karachi.
Please communicate following message to Director, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Telegraphs,
Karachi. Begins My letter No. 855-E. A., dated the 14th March 1904, re
garding Henjam telegraph. Please proceed without delay as follows : ( 1 )
shiptherequisitestaff and materials and hold them in readiness to start imme
diately on receipt of further orders. Care should be taken that every arrangement
is made in advance to reduce to a minimum the period which will be required
for the operation of laying the cable and erecting the station, ( 2 ) inform me today
by telegraph on what date you expect to have the ship ready to sail, how long
she will take to reach Henjam, and how long to complete the work, ( 3 ) tele
graph again when the vessel is actually ready to leave Karachi. Ends.
{Enclosure in Foreign Office covering letter of March 2, 1904.)
Foreign Opfice,
March 2, 1904.
Cypher to Sir A. Hardinge.
Telegram No. 19.
Your telegram No. 121 (of September 21,1903).
Government of India are now of opinion that Henjam is preferable to
Bassidore as station in Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and they desire to take advantage of
present cool season in order to immediately establish station there.

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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’ [‎369r] (736/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000089> [accessed 18 July 2026]

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