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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎443r] (884/949)

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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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1
No. 19.
Tehran,
o
7th March 1905.—{Received 10th April 1905.)
Sir,
1 / ^
i 0 ^7 With reference to Major Cox’s Despatch to me No. 6 of January 29th,
W ^*10 ^ t, >r o « u copy of which has bren sent to you, I
have the honour to transmit herewith my
reply, respecting the treatment of the Commercial Mission at Bunder Abbas.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
A. H. HARDINGE.
The Secretary to the Government of India
in the Foreign Department,
Calcutta.
No. 9
Tehran,
7th March 1905.
Sir,
I have received your despatch No. 6 of January 29th respecting the treat
ment of the Indian Commercial Mission at Bunder Abbas and the state of affairs
there. ^
On receiving the report therein referred to by Major Sykes I complained
officially to M. Naus and received an assurance that M. Cattersel of whose
7 objectionable character I had been informed by Captain Grey when at Bunder
Abbas and who was the only Belgian official in all the Persian cities I have
» visited not to call on me, should be transferred from his post as Director of
Customs at that port. I understand that this has been done, and that M.
Cattersel has actually left Bunder Abbas to assume the position of assistant at
Bushire. I enclose an extract from my letter on the subject to M. Naus.
I am again reminding the Persian Government of the matter of the
Lingah quarantine arrangements which is stated to be under the jurisdiction ot
the Grand Vizir.
I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
A. H. HARDINGE.
Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E.,
Bushire.

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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’ [‎443r] (884/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227832.0x000055> [accessed 8 July 2026]

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