‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [458r] (914/949)
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.
9
Pro.
No. 305,
Extract from the Al Ahram, dated the 21st June 1905.
Regarding Musandim flagstaff and Bahrein affairs.
A copy of the translation may go to Major Cox for information. The
writer
The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping.
is
undoubtedly one who is conversant with the French and English case about Maskat, and
is presumably Mons. Goguyer. His object is apparently to draw attention to the erection
of the flagstafFs in the neighbourhood of the Musandim Promontory. It might even be of
some use to send the translation of the article to the
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.
by weekly letter.
C. O’H. T.,—21-7-1905.
It is strange that the article should speak of Maklab and Musandino as independent.
The article is full of inaccuracies as to elementary facts. It might go home as a probable
further specimen of Mons. Goguyer’s methods.
C. Somers Cocks,— '25-7-1905.
The article shows that knowledge of the erection of flagstaffson the Musandim Promontory
*p M is common property. It is unfortunate, therefore,
r0 ’ 0 ‘ ' that in the telegram * of the 22 nd July the
statement should have been made that the presence of the flagstaffs had not attracted the
notice either of the French or of the Sultan.
Yes.
S. M. Fbasee.
A copy may go home by mail as proposed.
L. Russell, —2-8-1905.
This must be the hand of Mons. Goguyer.
The impression created by the withdrawal of Captain Knox from Koweit is just what
we expected.
2 . We shall be fortunate if the flagstaff incident is not used against Great Britain
in the Hague proceedings, and I think it would be worth while to telegraph to the India
Office informing them that the existence of the flagstaffs is no longer a secret, so that our
Counsel may not be taken by surprise. The line to be taken to justify our action, namely,
+ p • N qnA Hen jam precedent, is sufficiently indicated
' 10 ’ 0 ’' ' in our telegram of 22nd July.t I submit a draft
telegram for Your Excellency's approval.
S. M. Fraser,— 3-8-1905.
Extract from Reuter s Government and Press telegram, dated the 3rd August 1905.
London, 3rd. Proceedings before Hague Tribunal in connection with arbitration in
Anglo-French difference relative to Maskat affair have terminated and the award is now
awaited.
Reuter having announced that the Proceedings before the Hague Tribunal have
terminated, there is now no need to telegraph, and it will be sufficient if the extract goes home
by weekly letter.
S. M. Fraser, —4-8-1905.
C[urzon], —4-8-1905.
May drafts below issue, including an endorsement to Major Cox.
C. O'H. T.,—7-8-1905.
Yes.
C. Somers Cocks,— 7-8-1905.
Extract from Reuter's Government and Press telegram, dated the 4th August 1905.
London, 4th. In the debate in Commons last night on Foreign Office estimates Earl
t After Pro No 291 Percy said Government adhered to the view J
ment by a Foreign Power in
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
* * »
1711 F.D.
announced in 1903, in reference to any encroach-
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’ [458r] (914/949), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F111/359/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100093227832.0x000073> [accessed 3 August 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
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