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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [423v] (845/949)
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
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36
2
absurd message to head-quarters, in consequence of which the
original order was cancelled. It was only after the greatest trouble
and annoyance that the ammunition was allowed to be taken
with us.
(5) Even worse was his action with regard to the complimentary guard
supplied to us by the Governor of the district. When these
men arrived in the town from the district, the Director of Cus
toms at once disarmed them. By so doinsjr he flouted the orders
that had been sent from Tehran ; he insulted the Governor who
had supplied the guard ; and did his utmost to lower the dignity
of the Mission.
( 6 ) It has also come to my notice that the Director threatened the
Quarantine Doctor, Muhammad Azim, with dismissal for an
alleged interference on our behalf with the Customs House
prerogatives, an allegation absolutely without foundation.
All these things the Director did despite the fact that I and the member of
my staff had repeated interviews with him ; that we showed him letters and
telegrams necessary to convince him of our bond fides ; and that we did all
that in our power lay to meet him where he did not make it impossible for us
to do so.
I should like also to make a few remarks here regarding the existing
quarantine arrangements in Bandar Abbas. These are far from satisfactor/.
There is at the quarantine station only one room. There is no privacy, nor are
there any means of segregation in the event of male and female pnssengers
being detained at the station. There is only one common W. C. Its
appearance is not inviting, but any body who does desire to pay it a visit is
obliged to walk in the open part of the native quarters. There are no cooking
utensils. There is no cook. There are no stores, and the distance from town
makes it very difficult to procure supplies. There is no crockery or glass.
Indeed, there is nothing beyond water of very indefinite quality. It appears
also that the Director of Customs exercises or claims authority over the
Medical Officer in charge of the quarantine station. This seems to me,
whether rightly or wrongly I cannot say, an anomalous state of affairs, and one
that might result in possible complications.
In conclusion I cannot help stating that I was very unfavourably impressed
as an Englishman with the state of affairs at Bandar Abbas, which compares
very much indifferently with what I have experienced since coming into the
District of Kerman,
2 ,
No. 6, dated the 29tb January 1905.
From Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating
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.
,
To—S ir Arthur Hardinge, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., His Majesty’s Minister, Tehran.
I have the honour to refer to the letter addressed by Mr, A. Gleadow
Newcomen, President of the Commercial Mission now in Persia, to His Britannic
Majesty’s Consul at Kerman on 9th December drawing attention to the treat
ment of the Mission and the state of affairs at Bandar Abbas.
I understand from Major Sykes that he has forwarded a copy to Your
Excellency as he has to me.
2 . Mr Newcomen’s strictures upon Monsieur Cattersell’s behaviour seem
to be quite justified, but His Majesty’s Legation is, I think, fully aware of the
obstructive attitude assumed by the Customs official in question towards the
ission, an ma y ^ ere ^ ore dismiss that topic after mentioning that I learn
from the Director-General at Bushire that Monsieur Cattersell is to be relieved
by Monsiem Stass who is of a more conciliatory temperament.
S , ^ serva ^ ]0ris regarding quarantine arrangements and
our position generally at Bandar Abbas call for some comment.
fi f r Ur ^l e com P arison conditions bolding at Kerman with
those of Bandar Abbas, there are no doubt ample grounds, but it must he
iat Mr ^ ewcomeD . 8 impressions are those of the bird of passage,
when the ^ . paSSing throu " h Bandar Abbas at a time
uhen the exigencies of the service had necessitated the port being left for
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’ [423v] (845/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227832.0x00002e> [accessed 9 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