![‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎376v] (751/949)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0764.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎376v] (751/949)")
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [376v] (751/949)
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.
Persian guard to Persian territory. If you approve of these measures, please
telegraph. Ends* This message was repeated to Hardinge and to Naval Com-
mander-in-Chief. The latter now telegraphs that he has instructed the Senior
Naval Officer,
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, to proceed to Jask and place himself in tele
graphic communication with you and to carry out the wishes of the Govern
ment of India. Please take no action, pending receipt of further communi
cation which will be sent on receipt of Secretary of State’s orders.
. Telegram No. 69, dated the 16th April 1901.
From— Sie A. Hardinge, K.C.M.G., C.B., His Britannic Majesty’s Minister,
Tehran,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Simla.
Please refer to your telegram of the 13th April. Without obtruding any
advice about Tamb and Abu Musa, I would suggest that if the removal of the
Persian flag from the plinth at Henjam is necessary, it should be effected with
every mark of respect if possible by local headman, who should be asked to
re-erect it in another spot. It would be a pity that resumption of our rights
at Henjam should be represented to this vain and sensitive Court as having
been accompanied by an affront to the symbol of Persian sovereignty, and giv
ing rise to an unpleasant incident. Moreover, Persian pride will be offended
the more by an analogy between the Shah’s flag and that of the Chief of
Shargah. Repeated to Bushire.
Telegram, dated the 18th April ISO!.
From—The Commander of the Sphinx, Henjam,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla.
I have telegraphed following to Naval Commander-in-Chief, East Indies
Station, and to the
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.
at Rushire. According to positive state
ments made by the Sheikh of Hen jam, Ahmed-bin-Obeid island belongs to
the Sheikh of Eebai, and that no authority whatever over the island is
possessed by the Persian Government. Should the Persian Government attempt
to enforce their authority in the island, he states that he should, as far as
possible, resist such an attempt. The Sheikh stated that in the time of his
father, about twenty years ago, the Persian Government erected a flagstaff
and hoisted a Persian flag, but I cannot get a definite statement as to the
arrangements arrived at ultimately. Should the Indian Government not
admit the claim of the Persian Government, I would suggest the removal of
the flagstaff.
The Sheikh stated that no fresh slaves are being imported, but that he
would like an assurance that the possession of those now in the island might
not be interfered with.
2
Q. C. Preii, Simla.—No. 148 F, D.-20-4-04-59.
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
Use and share this item
- Share this item
‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [376v] (751/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000098> [accessed 7 August 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000098
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000098">‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎376v] (751/949)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x000098"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/Mss Eur F111_359_0764.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000001452.0x0003c3/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
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