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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [371r] (740/949)
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.
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thirty knots expected have not arrived. I have assumed that the cable would
• Tbu is conjectural. l an ded at or near the point wh^re the
. 1864 cable was landed, ship* anchoring
on north of the island. It it is immaterial where the cable is landed and
the office located, as a temporary measure, I believe that short emergency
connection might be made on south side of island. The ship leaves here in ten
days. As to building, work cannot be begun until landing is effected. In the
meantime staff must be located in tents, with any extra protection which may
be possible.” Ends,
No. 278 (Confl.), dated Karachi, the 23rd March 1904.
From—The Director,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
Section,
To—The L nder Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
In continuation of my letter No. 271 of the 19th instant, I have the ^ v
honour to say that the Director-in-Chief of this Department telegraphs from
London that the material necessary for the manufacture of the cable required
has not yet been shipped but that it will be shipped as early as possible.
2. After the arrival of the material here it will take about six weeks to
manufacture the cable if the shorter of the two routes, tide my No. 476 of the
14th April 1903, is found to be practicable, and about ten weeks if the longer
has to be followed. There must therefore be some months’ delay before the
cable can be got ready.
3. Then there is the question of the erection of an office and quarters for
the staff. From a communication I received in June 1903 from the Director of
this Department in Tehran, I gather that the Minister there does not consider
that anv preliminary steps should be taken which may draw attention to the
proposal to reoccupy Hen jam until the occupation can be actually carried out.
In the first instance, therefore, the office and the staff would have to be accom
modated in tents.
4. Now supposing the material for the cable required is shipped from
England by the end of the next month (I very much doubt whether it can be
shipped earlier or even so soon), it will not reach here till about the end of May,
and it cannot be made up into cable until about the end of July or the middle
of August next. At that time of year, owing to excessive heat, it is not usual,
unless absolutely necessary, to carry out cabling operations in the Peimn Golf
and I consider it would be dangerous to establish the staff in tents at Henjam.
5 For the above reasons I would suggest therefore that, as it is ul. :.v
that teleoraDhic connection can be re-established with Henjam for some month*,
possihlv not until about the beginning or end cf August next, the project may,
if possible, be deferred until about October next, when the weather m t-ie Per
sian Gulf begins to become more moderate.
Telegram, No. 1008-E. A, dated the 23th Marth 1004.
From—The Foreign Secretary, Calesrtta,
To—The Director, Gaff Seeds*, Karachi.
Have ascertained that Eastern Eitension Company can prwukfiO bwte
deen sea, 10 knots intermediate and usual shore end cabie ; ^
to taking cable from them ? If not. how much do you require and when can
you send u Patrick Stewart M for it.
5
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’ [371r] (740/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x00008d> [accessed 10 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