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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎385r] (768/949)

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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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[ III ]
Progs. No.
Letters, etc., and subjects.
Page.
69
Endorsement to the Finance and Commerce Department, No. 4311-
E.A., dated the 22nd December 1904, forwarding, for in
formation, a copy of the foregoing correspondence .
26
70
Letter from the Comptroller, India Treasuries, No. B.K.—285, dated
the 19th December 1904, calling for an estimate of expenditure
expected to be incurred in the current and ensuing financial
years in connection with the Commercial Mission to Persia
26
71
Telegram from 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , dated the
29th December 1901, asking for authority to remit ill,000
to Major Sykes’ bankers at Bombay .....
26
72
Telegram 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , No. 103-
E.A., dated the 7th January 1905, stating that proposal to
remit the funds for Commercial Mission to Major Sykes
sanctioned, but the amount will be credited direct on receiving
the name of the firm at Bombay ......
26
73
Telegram from 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. , Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , dated the 11th
January 1905, stating that Major Sykes’ bankers at Bombay
are Messrs. King, King & Co. ......
26
74
Endorsement from the Finance Department, No. 291-A., dated the
14th January 1905, forwarding copy of a telegram to Ac
countant-General, Bombay, authorizing him to pay R11,000
to Messrs. King, King & Co., Bankers, to be placed to the credit
of Major Sykes’ account, the Comptroller, India Treasuries,
being debited for the amount ......
27
75
Letter from the Secretary, Upper India Chamber of Commerce,
Cawnpore, dated the 25th January 1905, forwarding copy of
Mr. Gleadowe Newcomen’s second report in connection with the
Commercial Mission to South-East Persia, and copies of letters,
dated the 30th November and 2nd December 1904, in connection
therewith . . . . . . . •
29
76
Letter from 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , No. 60,
dated the 29th January 1905, forwarding copy of a letter
addressed by Mr, Newcomen, President, Commercial Mission
to Persia, to His Britannic Majesty’s Consul, Kerman, together
with copy of a despatch, No. 6 , dated 29th January 1905,
addressed to His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, in
connection therewith .*•••••
85
77
Letter from the Upper India Chamber of Commerce, Cawnpore,
dated the 2nd February 1905, forwarding copy of Mr. Gleadowe
Newcomen’s third report in connection with the Commercial
Mission to South-East Persia, and copies of letters, dated 2nd,
6 th and 12th December 1904 in connection therewith
39
78
Letter to Upper India Chamber of Commerce, No. 1689-E.A.,
dated the 16th February 1905, forwarding Mr. Newcomen’s
second and third reports on the Commercial Mission to Persia.
Stating that on the advice of Mr. Newcomen the itinerary
of the Commercial Mission has been changed
47
79
Letter from 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , No. 62,
dated the 3rd February 1905, forwarding copy of a letter
addressed to His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran, No. 8 ,
dated the 3rd February 1905, on the subject of the itinerary
of the Commercial Mission to Persia , . . • •
49
80
Telegram to His Britannic Majesty’s Minister, Tehran,
No. 842-E.A., dated the 27th February 1905, stating that it
would be very satisfactory if Mr. Graham could do anything
towards accompanying or assisting the Mission, which, how
ever, should retain its commercial character . . •
51

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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’ [‎385r] (768/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x0000a9> [accessed 14 July 2026]

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