Abstract: Correspondence, notes, and memoranda relating to relations between Kalat State and Gwadur [Gwadar], the latter being part of the Sultan of Muscat's territory.the Kalat State's request for postal and telegraphic offices to be established at Jiuni [Jīwanī] and for British India Steam Navigation Company steamers to make fortnightly calls therethe Burmah Oil Company Limited's application for an oil prospecting licence in the Gwadur areathe demarcation of the boundary between the two territories, necessitated largely by oil explorationthe Sultan's complaints about a blockade of Gwadur by the Kalat State and encroachments over the border by Kalat State officials and American geologistsarrangements for a meeting between the Sultan of Muscat and the Khan of Kalat (which never took place)the Royal Air Force's use of facilities in Gwadur and Jiwanithe question of the strategic importance of Gwadur to the British and whether to induce the Sultan to sell the enclave back to the Kalat Statethe status of Kalat following India's independence and the creation of the Dominion of Pakistan, including a memorandum by the Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations, dated 12 September 1947, that deals with the legislative and political relations between certain 'Princely States' and the Dominion of India (folios 42-51).The principal correspondents include the Government of India (External Affairs Department), Political Residency in the Persian Gulf, Political Agent at Kalat and Chagai, Agent to the Governor-General in Baluchistan, Political Agent at Muscat, Admiralty, Air Ministry, British Agent at Gwadur, Commonwealth Relations Office, and the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in Pakistan.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 203; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-203; these numbers are also written in pencil and circle.A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.
Abstract: Correspondence regarding the position of independent Indian States with regard to the 1926 'International Convention with the object of Securing the Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade', a copy of which is found on folios 27-32. The correspondence is between: Government of India, Foreign and Political Department; Government of India, External Affairs Department; The Secretary to the Crown Representative; the Political Officer in Sikkim; the General Secretary and Judicial Secretary to the Maharaja of Sikkim; the Agent to the Governor General in Baluchistan; and the Chief Secretary to the Government of the North-West Frontier Province.The papers discuss the application of the convention to some of the Indian 'Princely States' and cover the effort to ascertain their positions in this regard. The states involved are Sikkim, Kalat, Las Bela, and Chitral.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 33; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Letters from William Lockyer Merewether to Lewis Pelly discussing affairs in the Persian Gulf, Muscat, Kelat [Kalāt], Afghanistan, India, Europe and Britain.Discussion on affairs in Muscat covers the period 1866 to 1872 and includes Syud Salem [Salim II bin Thuwaini]'s attempts to consolidate power as Sultan 1866-1868; Colonel Herbert Disbrowe, Political Agent at Muscat's actions whilst in post and his subsequent removal from there; and Torkee [Turki bin Said]'s attempts to consolidate his power as Sultan 1868-1872, including threats from Sheikh Nazir and Azzan bin Qais, and his eventual recognition by the British Government in 1871. Also discussed are ideas for the final separation of Muscat and Zanzibar including possible ways of settling the outstanding question of the Zanzibar Subsidy.The situations at Gwadur [Gwadar] and Chabar [Chabahar] are also discussed in the correspondence, with particular focus on Sheikh Nazir and Abd'al Aziz al-Said, both of whom held the position of Governor of Gwadur during this time, and also Abd'al Aziz's attempts at taking control of Chabar.Affairs in the Persian Gulf are also discussed including the increase in trade in the region, the problems with the lack of available vessels of war; the handling of affairs in Bahrein [Bahrain] and Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas]; appointments to vacant positions in the Gulf and also focusing on the Persian Famine in 1871 with thoughts on the need for relief, the sickness and suffering being experienced, the failure of the Persian Government to react quickly to the situation, the lack of available grain and the high prices of Indian grain for sale. The ongoing difficulty of relations with the Persian Government are also discussed, along with thoughts on the British representative at Tehran Charles Alison, and the desire for Persian relations to be handled by the Government of India instead of the Foreign Office.There is discussion on affairs in Kelat, including the Khan of Kelat's actions and relations with both local chiefs in Beloochistan [Baluchistan] and the British Government. The correspondence primarily focuses on the actions of Colonel Robert Phayre and Captain (later Major) Robert Sandeman who are both accused of meddling and interfering in the affairs of Kelat in direct violation of their orders, resulting in Phayre being removed from his position as Superintendent of Sind in 1871.News from Europe and Britain is also reported on, including the instability of the British Government 1869-1871 including attempts to remove Benjamin Disraeli from power in 1869 and the likely dissolution of William Gladstone's government in 1871 and the likelihood of a coalition government being formed; also reported on is the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the situation in Italy with regard to Venetia; the Alabama Claims brought by the Uinited States of America against the United Kingdom in 1869 and their resolution; and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871 including its beginnings, thoughts on Otto von Bismark's strategy against Napoleon III, the situation in France post war and Adolphe Thiers as the new President of France.Other matters discussed in the correspondence include the work of Frederic John Goldsmid in attempting to resolve the Persian boundary dispute over Sistan; the challenge to the rulership of Najd between Abdalla ibn Faisal ibn Turki and Said ibn Faisal ibn Turki along with Turkish involvement in Wahhabi affairs; extensions of the telegraph at Chahabar; Henjam; Musandam and Jask in 1868; Sayyide Salme (later Emily Ruete)'s escape from Zanzibar to Aden on the British vessel
Highflyer; and news of Hormuzd Rassam's journey to Abysinnia [Tanzania] to attempt to secure the release of hostages being held by the King of Abysinnia and his subsequent capture and imprisonment there.The cover sheet (folio 1) which was most likely written by a member of staff in the India Office in the 1920s, records that the file contains correspondence from Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether to Sir Lewis Pelly, 1867-1872, mostly written at Karachi. The cover sheet also notes that Merewether was Chief Commissioner of Sind 1868-1877 and a Member of the Council of India 1877-1880 and that he died in 1880.Physical description: Foliation: The contents of the file have been foliated using a pencil number in the bottom right hand corner of the recto of each folio.
Abstract: A report on the island of Qeis or Kenn [Kīsh] compiled by John McNeil from information gathered from inhabitants of the island and the adjacent Persian [Iranian] coast, undated. The report examines the relations of nearby Persian ports, in particular Charrack [Bandar-e Chārak], with the Joasmees [al-Qawāsim] and Wahabees [Wahhabis], the Persian Government at Sheraz [Shīrāz], and Muscat. It contains tables displaying the strength in men and boats of Linga [Bandar-e Lengeh], Magoo [Bandar-e Moghūyeh], Charrack, Kelaht or Ghelaht [Kalāt], and Taonah [Bandar-e Tahūneh] and their dependencies, and the names of ruling Shaiks [Shaikhs].The letter was enclosed in the letter of Henry Willock, HM Chargé d’Affaires in Persia [Iran], to the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company, dated 29 March 1820 [IOR/L/PS/9/69/1].Physical description: Condition: the letter was perforated in an attempt to stop the spread of disease.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of enclosures to a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 7 February 1873, forwarding a copy of a letter from the Political Agent, Khelat, regarding raids on the Khelat [Kalat] Frontier by the Seistanees [Sistanees].Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 24, and terminates at f 24a, 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.
Abstract: The part contains reports, correspondence, and printed copies of correspondence, relating to affairs on the frontiers between Persia [Iran] and British Baluchistan [Pakistan], as well as between British Baluchistan and Afghanistan. The part includes: reports of unrest and desertion amongst the Zhob militia in 1916, and losses incurred as a result, as reported by the Political Agent at Zhob, Major Arthur le Grand Jacob; the granting of financial rewards to officers and men in the Zhob militia who did not desert during the Third Anglo-Afghanistan War in 1919; the continuance of funds towards a number of British border forces in 1921, including the Swat Levies and the Mekran Levy Corps; discussion of the future arrangements for the administration of those parts of Mekran [Makran] under the authority of the Khanate of Kalat, 1922; reports on the Kalat administration; the disposal of the Mirjawa [Mīrjāveh] to Duzdap [Zahedan] railway; and the transfer of control over tribes in the Sarhad district of Persian Baluchistan, from the British to the Persian authorities, March 1924.The part’s principal correspondents are: the Foreign and Political Department of the Government of India; the Agent to the Governor-General, Resident and Chief Commissioner, Baluchistan; the Political Agent at Kalat, Terence Humphrey Keyes; the Foreign Office; and HM Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary at Tehran.Physical description: 1 item (446 folios)
Abstract: Correspondence between Colonel Sir William Lockyer Merewether, The Commissioner in Sind; Colonel Robert Phayre, Political Superintendent, Frontier Upper Sind; Captain Charles Henry Harrison, Political Agent at Khelat [Kalāt]; Captain Robert Sandeman, Deputy Commissioner, Dehra Ghazee Khan [Dera Ghāzi Khān]; His Highness Mir Khudadad Khan, Khan of Khelat; and the Government at Bombay regarding affairs in Khelat 1869-1870 and relations between the British Officials responsible for maintaining friendly relations with the Khan.The correspondence focuses primarily on Colonel Robert Phayre and his opinions of both the intentions of the Khan of Khelat during the period November 1869 to September 1870 and the actions of Captain Charles Henry Harrison, the Political Agent at Khelat during this time with responses to his letters from Colonel William Lockyer Merewether, to whom Colonel Phayre reported, in which Colonel Merewether attempts to correct Colonel Phayre's views and opinions on Khelat affairs.Particular matters focused on in the correspondence include the Khan's governance of his own state; relations with his Chief's and Sirdars; correspondence with individuals from Seistan [Sīstān]; and his use of the title Khan of Beloochistan [Baluchistan].Also included in the correspondence are matters relating to Captain Robert Sandeman who had taken up correspondence with Sirdar Moollah Mahomed Raisanee [Sardar Mullah Mohammed Raisani] despites orders from Colonel Merewether that no British official should have any sort of contact or communication with him and his people, and the difficulties that this correspondence caused for both the Khan of Khelat and the relations between him and the British Government.The correspondence with the Government of Bombay relates solely to Colonel Merewether's concerns over Colonel Phayre's actions and opinions and his treatment of Captain Harrison.Physical description: Foliation: The file has been foliated using a pencil number enclosed in a circle located in the top right hand corner of the recto of each folio.