1. ‘Dispatches received from the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia’

Description:

Abstract: Enclosures nos. 2-6 to a dispatch from the Secret Department, Bombay [Mumbai] Castle, dated 23 April 1845. The enclosures are dated 27 November 1844-2 February 1845.The enclosures consist of copies of dispatches from the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia describing the state of relations between Persia [Iran] and the Ottoman Empire, particularly relating to a dispute over the border region of Zohab. Enclosure no. 3 contains a detailed report by the Political Agent describing the geography (ff 406-419) and history (ff 420-441) of Zohab, as well as his own observations on the current circumstances (ff 442-448).The other primary topic is the imprisonment and trial in Bagdad [Baghdad] of a Persian priest accused of making blasphemous alterations to a copy of the Koran [Quran], and its effects on relations between the Soonee [Sunni] and Sheeah [Shia] populations of Bagdad.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 403, and terminates at f 469, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.

2. Affairs in Persia and the Bagdad Pachalic

Description:

Abstract: This part of the volume consists of a copy of an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee, Number 3 of 1853, dated 26 March 1853. The enclosure is numbered 21 and is dated 15 February 1853.The enclosure consists of a letter from HM Consul at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, to the Secretary to the Government of Bombay in the Political Department, forwarding under a flying seal a copy of a despatch to the address of the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, enclosing copies of two despatches addressed to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lord John Russell, concerning affairs of Persia [Iran] and the Bagdad Pachalic [Pashalik].In the first despatch to Lord Russell, dated 14 February 1853, Rawlinson states that the mother of Prince Abbas Mirza ['Abbās Mīrzā Mulk Ārā Qājār] has learned that the Shah expresses much regret at having allowed her and her son to leave Persia, and that great efforts will now be made to compel them to return. Rawlinson reports that, fearing for her son’s life, she has implored Rawlinson to bring the case under the special consideration of Lord Russell, and to solicit that if the Porte [the Government of the Ottoman Empire] should rescind permission for Abbas Mirza to reside in Turkish [Ottoman] territory, then he should be allowed to proceed either to England or to India.The second despatch to Russell, dated 15 February 1853, encloses copies of despatches addressed by Rawlinson to HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Tehran, Colonel Justin Sheil, and HM Chargé d’Affaires at Constantinople [Istanbul], Colonel Hugh Rose, relating to the march of the Prince of Kermanshah on Zohab [Sarpol-e Zahab]. Rawlinson states in his letter to Rose that there is nothing to indicate hostile intentions towards Turkey [the Ottoman Empire] on the part of the Persians, but that they appear to be planning ‘some engineering operations’. Rawlinson also discusses a difficult situation which has resulted from the Kurdish tribe the Ja’af [Jaff], which is subject to Turkey but which usually encamps in the pastures of Zohab, going much further into Persian territory than has been the custom, and many ‘refractory’ Persian chiefs taking refuge in the Ja’af camp.Physical description: There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-3, on folio 462. The number 3 is repeated for reference on the verso of the last folio of the enclosure.

3. Turkish Arabia Affairs

Description:

Abstract: This item comprises an enclosure to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 9 dated 16 January 1856. The enclosure is dated 22 December 1856.The item comprises a letter from Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq], Baghdad, to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, forwarding for the attention of the Governor in Council, Bombay, and the Government of India, a copy of two of his despatches to Charles Augustus Murray, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Persia [Iran], reporting on the following matters:The recurrent differences between the Persian Consul in Baghdad, and the [Ottoman] Turkish Governor and local authorities in Baghdad, notably regarding the treatment of pilgrims and the ‘tolls and other charges to which [they] are liable in their transit from the frontier to Nejjif [Najaf] and back again’ (f 142)Discussions between the Persian Consul and the Governor of Baghdad, and the respective frontier authorities, regarding a ‘Muradee branch’ of the (‘Turco-Kurdish’) Jaaf tribe which ‘on its descent from the mountains of Ardelan [Ardalan] directs it march on the pasture grounds of Zohab’(f 143r) which is a contested territory.Physical description: 1 item (12 folios)

4. Turkish Arabia Affairs

Description:

Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee [Bombay Secret Letter], No. 22 dated 31 March 1856. The enclosures are dated 16 Janurary-5 February 1856.The item comprises letters from Captain Arnold Burrowes Kemball, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Ottoman Iraq] to the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, for the attention of the President and Governor in Council, Bombay, and the Government of India.The papers cover matters including the following:Events in the Montefik [Muntafiq] District, including the contested ‘chiefship’ of the Montefik tribe, and the decline of the area caused by excessive taxation imposed by the Governor of Bussorah [Basra] and the ‘most revolting means’ (f 397) used by Zeyd en Nasser [Zayd bin Nāṣir], the brother of Bunder en Nasser [Bandar bin Nāṣir] (who was invested with the ‘sheikhship of the Montefik’), for their collection for the Turkish authoritiesThe capture of Kars by Russian forces [Crimean War, 1853-1856] under General Mouravieff [Nikolay Muravyov] and the military situation in that area of the Ottoman EmpireTensions along the Persian [Iranian]-Turkish [Ottoman] frontier notably at Kermanshah and Mohamrah [Khorramshahr], including: concerns of the Governor-General of Bagdad [Baghdad] regarding potential Persian plans to mount a campaign in spring 1856 with Russian allies; British concerns that Turkish troops may march into the disputed territory of Zohab, then in possession of Persia; and Persian fears of an invasion at Mohamrah by the English via the Turkish dominions.Physical description: 1 item (18 folios)

5. File 3154/1912 Pt 1-2 ‘Turco-Persian frontier: the position of Hawizeh; miscellaneous prints’

Description:

Abstract: The volume contains parts 1 and 2 of the subject 'Turco-Persian Frontier'. Part 1 (IOR/L/10/PS/291/1 contains correspondence, reports and maps relating to surveys of the Turco-Persian frontier between Hawizeh [Hoveyzeh] and the Shatt-al-Arab, undertaken in May 1912 by the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox, and again in June and July 1912 by Lieutenant Arnold Talbot Wilson and Lieutenant Henry Aloysius Bruno Digby-Beste.The surveys were carried out in order to fix the precise locations of the village of Hawizeh and the Turco-Persian border at Mohammerah [Khorramshahr]. The reports submitted by Cox and Wilson set out the topography of the region, its canals and rivers, populations, jurisdiction, tribal affiliations and tribal rulers. Digby-Beste’s report (ff 16-18) details the survey measurements taken between 15 June and 2 July 1912, with calculations of longitude and latitude measurements for Hawizeh.Part 2 (IOR/L/PS/10/291/2 contains copies of correspondence, memoranda, maps and other papers, relating to diplomatic negotiations taking place between the Turkish and Persian Governments, marshalled by the British and Russian Governments, over the fixing of the boundary line between Persia and Turkish Mesopotamia at Mohammerah [Khorramshahr], Hawizeh [Hoveyzeh] and Zohab.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 324; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

6. File 4880/1913 Pt 1-2 'Turco-Persian Frontier Commission'

Description:

Abstract: Correspondence, reports and maps concerning the Turco-Persian Frontier Commission of 1913.Part 1 concerns arrangements for an Anglo-Russian loan to the Persian Commission, to provide for the cost of erecting boundary pillars.Part 2 concerns negotiations over and arrangements for the Turco-Persian Frontier Commission, and the eventual production of the Protocole relative à la Délimitation turco-persane, signé à Constantinople le 4 (17) Novembre, 1913.It also contains maps of the Turco-Persian frontier at Hawizeh [Howeyzeh], Shatt-Al-'Arab, Bahmanshir [Rūdkhāneh-ye Bahmanshīr], Muhammareh [Khorramshar] and Abbádán I [Ābādān].Each part includes a divider which gives the subject, part number, the year the file was opened, subject heading, and a list of correspondence references found within that part, listed by year. These are placed after the last piece of correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 316; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-313; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.