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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [369v] (737/949)
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. .
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Telegram, No. 957 -E. A., dated the &3rd March 1904.
J' l i~c>* e hro*2>kl To Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, C.I.E.,
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, Bushire.
Telegraph cable will shortly be landed at Henjam by “ Patrick Stewart. ”
Admiral asked to send gun-boat to Bunder Abbas to be at band if icquire .
Please let Trevor know. Persian Government will only be informed when
boat has started, so matter must be kept confidential.
Addressed Bushire, repeated Maskat.
No 271, dated Karachi, the 19th March 1904.
From—The Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs,
To The Under Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
With reference to your No. 855-E. A., of the 14th instant, I have the
honour to say that no material has yet been received from England and that
even after its receipt it will take a considerable time, as I have already reported,
to make up the cable necessary for making a connection with Henjam.
2. I may also point out that Henjam is a desolate island with hardly any
inhabitants, there are no buildings there of any sort and a telegraph station
will have to be built before an office can he opened there. At this season of
the year, when the hot weather is just coming on, it would he impossible for
the staff at Henjam to live in tents.
3 . I have telegraphed the contents of your letter to the Birector-in-Chief
of the Department in London, so that the despatch of material required may be
expedited, but I should like it to be understood that there are many difficulties
in the way of establishing telegraphic communication at very short notice with
Henjam as desired.
Telegram, dated the 23rd March 1904.
, ^ From—The Commissioner in Sind, Karachi,
To—The Under Secretary to the Government of India, in the Foreign Department.
Your telegram of yesterddy. The Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraph De
partment, replies as follows :— Begins. It is impossible to lay the cable at
present. Material was at once asked for by telegraph on receipt of No. 318-E. A.,
of the 29th J anuary, but it has not yet been shipped from England. Until
it is received, my stock of cable is insufficient to make the connection. Ends.
Telegram, No. 981-E. A., dated the 25th March 1904,
Ur .
From—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta,
To—The Commissioner in Sind, Karachi.
Your telegram of 23rd. Please communicate following to Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Telegraphs. Begins. On August iOth you reported that with
one month’s notice you would have enough cable, and cable material, to lay 68
2
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’ [369v] (737/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x00008a> [accessed 29 June 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