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‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎454r] (906/949)

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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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3
'tir&P)
We may await the despatch. Meanwhile it will be enough to send a copy to Major Cox
for in formation.
5-4-05.
As proposed.
5-4-05.
C. Somees Cocks.
S. M. Fhaser.
/ft
Endorsement 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. 1363-E.B., dated the «/ < T/CIW' Zy 2-
10th April 1905.
Forwarding a copy of the foregoing communications for information.
This file may now be submitted to His Excellency for information.
H. P. C.,—12-4-05.
12-4-05. C. Somers Cocks.
There was not the slightest necessity to send a copy of the telegram to Major Cox. The
despatch should have been awaited.
15-4-05. C[urzon].
Telegram from His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India, dated the 5th (received 6th)
May 1905.
In view of the declaration made respecting the territorial limits of the Maskat
Sultanate asks for the views of the Government of India as to the policy to
he pursued as regards the flagstaff on Telegraph Island, as well as regards
Sheep Island and the Maklab Isthmus.
ft
The reasons for erecting the flagstaffs on the sites mentioned were explained in paragraph
c. £ - f ^ TsJ r\ 1 ft T?,vbnvnnl rlnf.nrJ
5 of our Secret Despatch* No. 16, External, dated
the 21st January 1904, which were further aug
mented by the recommendations made in the sub
sequent Secret Despatch t No. 24, External, dated
the 4th February 1904, providing for the inclusion
of the tract of country concerned in the Consular
District of Bunder Abbas. The fresh information brought to bear on the point by the not&
• Sec No. 323 in Secret E., June 1904, Nos. 300
S88.
f See No. 173 in Secret E , August 1904, Nos. 172-
17 °- . - , •
Also please sea pages 23 and 25 of notes in
Secret E., March 1905, Nos. 707-794: aud pages
2-8 of the current notes
r-
x Vide telegram from His Majesty's Secretary of
State, dated 31st March 1905.
§ See No. 21 in Secret E., November 1902, Nos.
7-21.
recorded by Mr. Lorimer, on the 22nd March
1905, has rendered a fresh examination of the issue
about the (lagstaffs necessary, and practically means
a return to the original proposal, relative to the
re-occupation X of the old telegraph buildings at
Elpbinstone Inlet: discussed in our Secret Des
patch § No. 192, External, dated the 23rd October 1902, and approved |1 by His Majesty’s
Government.
message
i/o-dh
R See No. 193 in Secret E., July 1933, Nos,
214.
192-
2. Major Cox may be asked for bis views, in consultation with Major Grey, the
being repeated to the former officer for this purpose.
For orders.
C. O’H. T.,—6-5-05.
H. P. C.,—6-5-05.
The lines on which the reply to the Secretary of State should be drawn up are laid down
in His Excellency’s note of 25th March 1905. It would appear that the views and statements r
contained in the last two sentences of the Secretary of State’s telegram of Aprd-flst no longer v ^
necessarily hold good. yW? 1^0 —
A draft telegram is put up. It is perhaps unnecessary to consult Major Cox on a point ^
of general policy like the present one, but when a reply comes from the Secretary of State, ho T4/ VfiA
might he asked whether he is in favour of removing the flagstaff on Sheep Island or of
handing it over.
8-5-05.
C. Somers Cocks.

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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’ [‎454r] (906/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227832.0x00006b> [accessed 16 July 2026]

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