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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [398r] (794/949)
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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Fbomthe Polthcl Resident in the Persian Gude, No. 63, dated the 3rd (received 7 C
14th) February 1905. •
Forwards copy of a letter addressed to His Britannic Majesty's Minister Tehran Nn R 7 / j
UPeL FelrUa,V ^ ^ ^ ° f ^ Mnem * ° f tl ‘ MUnfn
The demi-official correspondence may also be read.
When the idea of an Engineer wae given up the Mission became fado commercial
* Page 16, notes, External A, August 1904, a ° i ?f Ampthill himself inserted words in
Nor. 68-107. 6 ^ ur le , tter ^ 2ud June 1904 to the Chambers
explained in Pro. No. 64, External A, October 1904* Nos . 1 49^7* where ^r^Shake * 3 fUrthGr
toldThe Mission will not have any political status or ^nifiea^r W T as
Officers at Bunder Abbas, Kerman, and Bam would endeavour to enlist Bntls ^. Con ® ular
local Persian officials on behalf of the Mission.- entleavour to enlist the sympathies of the
t Pro. No. 130, External A, October 1904,
Nos. 49-177.
t Pro. No. 149, External A, October 1904»
Nos 49-177.
§ Pro. No. 142, External A, October 1904,
Nos. 49-177.
(| Pro. No. 154, External A, October 1904,
Nos. 49-177.
I should say that the object had been attained with
the Persian Government, who have shown no suspi
cion of the Mission.
8. M. Fbasbb, —25-2-1905.
Major Sykes’ telegram of 20th February.
i ^ 3e P osB ^ on taken up was objected to by
both the Bombay f and Bengal J Chambers,
but we refused to send an official president^ or
political officer. || The object of conciliating
the susceptibilities of the Persian Government
and allaying the apprehensions of those who
see militarism in everything does not seem
to have been attained. We might now do
what we can for the prestige of the Mission
after leaving Major Sykes' district, I put
up a telegram to Sir A. Hardinge for approval.
The Mission will not reach Yezd till about
22nd March.^f
A. F. Fremantle,—24-2-1905.
L. Russell,—24-2-1905.
Mr. Gleadowe-Newcomen condemns our policy in divesting the Mission of political signi
ficance and official status, but bis own letter shows, I think, that the decision was fSlll
pn 6 ld fi h d i an ? t k at h \ h r had , aU the practical support in his work which our political influence
R dlVr ngt ^ b T r, L Whi eWe b ?t Ve T, eS , Capedthe SU 8 P ici o n (except in the Russian and English
Y' C »\r 6) W an avo "® dl y Poetical Mission would have aroused. Beyond the omission
of the Governor-General of Kerman to return his call (which Mr. Newcomen admits did no
harm) he fails to point out any respect in which be was hampered by the lack of official status
of ‘per^mafdignityf SUSpectlDg that his views are not altogether unconnected with the subject
Indeed, it is fortunate that the Mission was called a strictly commercial one, when we
f 1 S f P T re J ldelnlng . to h ® admen and merchants that he was sent out by the Govern
ment of India to enquire into their needs and troubles and to suggest remedies."
I have slightly added to the draft telegram, which is for Your Excellency's approval.
S. M. Fraser,—25-2-1905.
I have rarely read a more foolish letter than that from Mr. Newcomen. Had the Mis-
AMfou/troubU. 01ie ’ We mi S htea 6 il y> with Mr. Newcomen as its President, W had
I only hope that the Chambers will not be so indiscreet as to publish his explosion.
C[urzon],~ 26-2-1905.
Telegram to His Britannic Majesty's Minister, Tehran, No. 842-E.A., dated the (v**^*>
27th February 1905.
Stales that it mould io very satisfactory if Mr. Graham could do anything towards accom
panying or assisting the Mission, which, however, should retain its commercial
character.
1 LEGRAM PROM HlS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S CONSUL, KERMAN, DATED AND RECEIVED 20lH ,,
February 1905.
BeporU the return of the Commercial Mission to Kerman on the 20th instant after a most
successful tour to Bam, Barmashir, Jiruft, and Bain, Gives approximate future dates,
and states that the parti/ is in excellent health.
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’ [398r] (794/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227831.0x0000c3> [accessed 20 July 2026]
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- 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