Abstract: This file begins with draft instructions, under the heading 'Anglo-Russian Relations', apparently written by John Morley, Secretary of State for India, for Sir Arthur Nicolson, British Ambassador at St Petersburg, in advance of negotiations over an Anglo-Russian agreement.The instructions are divided into two sections, 'Persia' and 'Afghanistan', and they concern Britain's and Russia's respective interests in Persia and Afghanistan. The instructions outline important points on which Nicolson is expected to base any future agreement with Russia (of which a fundamental requirement is Russia's recognition both of the independence and integrity of Persia, and of the territorial integrity of Afghanistan). The remaining instructions relate to issues of trade in Persia and Afghanistan.The draft instructions are followed by an extract from a private letter from Lord Minto [Gilbert John Elliot Murray Kynynmound], Viceroy and Governor-General of India, to John Morley, dated 12 June 1906.In the letter, Lord Minto responds to Morley's draft instructions for Sir Arthur Nicolson. Minto gives his opinions on the wording and possible implications of each paragraph of the draft instructions. Most of Minto's letter details his opposition to the idea that Great Britain and Russia should agree not to extend their railways in the direction of the frontiers of Afghanistan for the next ten years, for which Minto offers a number of political and military considerations.Minto's letter is followed by a letter from Lord Kitchener [Horatio Herbert Kitchener] to Lord Minto, dated 23 May 1906, in which Kitchener responds to Minto's letter of 19 May 1906, which requested Kitchener's opinion on the question of the Frontier railways. In his letter, Kitchener argues that the possibility of extending the British railway system is not only of great strategic importance for the defence of British India, but is also important for maintaining friendly relations with the Amir [Emir] of Afghanistan [Habibullah Khan].Kitchener's letter is followed by two loose folios which repeat word for word the aforementioned draft instructions on Afghanistan and Persia (folios 8 and 9 respectively). Both sets of instructions have the heading 'Secret'.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio, and terminates at the last folio; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: The projet of a convention and armistice between Persia [Iran] and Russia delivered at the desire of the Prince Royal of Persia [Crown Prince of Persia], Abbas Mirza, to Meerza [Mīrzā] Mohammed Hassan on 5 May 1810, by Sir Harford Jones, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Persia. The document declares an armistice between Persia and Russia for a period of six months, proposes future peace negotiations, and bars the contracting parties from interfering in the affairs of the other. The armistice also refers to a separate and secret article to be drawn up by Meerza Bozurg [Mīrzā Buzurg].The projet was enclosed in Jones's letter of 2 June 1810, and received on 4 October 1810.Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Translations of two letters from an informant of Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], dated 3 and 8 May 1802.The letters concern Russian activity in the Caucasus and Caspian Sea, reporting: movements of Russian troops and ships; embassies from Shaku [Shaki] and Shirvan [Sirvan] to Tehran seeking assistance against Russia; and the planned flight of Armenian merchants from Baku, Enzelee [Bandar-e Anzali], Ghilan [Gilan], and Tehran in anticipation of conflict.These letters were enclosed in Jones’s letter to Marquess Wellesley, Governor-General of Bengal, dated 20 June 1802 (IOR/L/PS/9/76/245).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item contains copies of four letters:1. Translations of two anonymous letters to Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], with dates in cypher. The letters concern Russian activity in the Caucasus, including an attack on Erivan [Yerevan] by Prince Daoud [David] of Georgia with Russian support to demand tribute, the movements of Russian troops and ships, and supposed Russian designs on Erivan and the Caspian ports.2. A letter from Samuel Manesty. Resident in Bussora [Basra], to Harford Jones, sent from Bussora and dated 8 January 1802. The letter concerns a consignment of military supplies sent from India for the Basha [Büyük Sulaymān Pāshā, Governor of Baghdad].3. A letter from Robert Rickards, Secretary to the Government of Bombay, to Harford Jones, sent from Bombay Castle [Mumbai] and dated 1 November 1801. The letter states that, in the interest of appearances, Jones is free to decide on the clothing worn by employees of the Bagdad Residency subject to economy.Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: A record of the interrogation of an Armenian named Stephan who had recently been in Tiflis [Tblisi] by Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], on 8 January 1802.The interrogation relates to the state of affairs in Georgia under Russian occupation, the activities of members of Georgia’s royal family, a Russian embassy to Persia [Iran], and the threat of a Russian attack on Persia.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: Information on Georgia received by Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], on 6 September 1801 from a merchant who arrived in Bagdad from Tiflis [Tblisi].The merchant reports: an attempt by Alexander, the brother of the Ruler of Georgia Goorgeen Khan [King Giorgi XII of Kartli-Kakheti], to take over the country with support from Baba Khan [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār, Shāh of Persia]; Georgeen Khan’s subsequent turn to Russia for support; the arrival of Russian forces in Georgia; and Goorgeen Khan’s pledge of allegiance to the Emperor [Tsar] of Russia.Attached is a record of Jones’s interrogation of the merchant.Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: This item contains translations of two letters:1. A letter from Mohammed Reza Khan [Muḥammad Rezā Khān], Persian representative in Kerbela [Karbala], to Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], dated 14 August 1802. Mohammed Reza Khan reports that he is returning to Kerbela and forwards news from the campaign of the Shah [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār] in Khorasan.2. A letter from an informant of Harford Jones, sent from Erezeroum [Erzurum] and dated 7 August 1802. The letter concerns affairs in the Caucasus, including Russian troop movements and conflict between Erivan [Yerevan] and Kars.These translations were originally enclosed in the letter from Jones to Alexander Stratton, HM Minister Plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire, dated 23 September 1802 (IOR/L/PS/9/76/276).Physical description: 1 item (2 folios)
Abstract: An extract of a letter from the Armenian Archbishop at Saint Petersburg [Iosif Argutinsky-Dolgoruky, Archbishop of All Armenians in Russia] to his nephew Simon Madator in Bagdad [Baghdad], dated October 1798.The letter reports on the policy of the Emperor [Tsar Paul I] in the Caucasus, including:Gifts from the Emperor to Prince Gorrgun [King Giorgi XII] of GeorgiaThe planned deployment of Russian troops to take control of ports on the Caspian seaOrders for the establishment in Georgia of a colony for Armenians who have fled Carabaug [Karabakh].The extract was translated and copied by Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad.Physical description: 1 item (1 folio)
Abstract: A copy of a letter from Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], to Alexander Stratton, HM Minister Plenipotentiary to the Ottoman Empire, sent from Bagdad and dated 30 August 1802. The letter forwards reports from Persia [Iran] of military preparations believed to be related to a campaign against the Wahabies [Wahhābī movement] and urges Stratton to press the Porte [Government of the Ottoman Empire] to assert its authority in Bagdad.Attached are:1. A letter from an informant of Harford Jones, sent from Erzeroum [Erzurum] and dated 26 May 1802. The letter forwards reports of Russian troop build-ups and military preparations in the Caucasus and the planned Russian annexation of Erivan [Yerevan].2. A ‘Bulletin from Persia’ written in French, dated Bagdad, 19 August 1802. The Bulletin reports developments in the campaign of Fet Ali Shah [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār, Shāh of Persia] in Corrassan [Khorasan] and planned campaigns against Merve [Mary/Merv] and the Vhabies [Wahhābī movement]. The bulletin also reports on events in Afghanistan, describing campaigns to secure Kandahar and Herat by the forces of Mahmud Chah [Mahmūd Shāh Durrānī], and suggesting that Fet Ali Shah has no designs in this direction.3. A copy of a letter from John Barker, Proconsul in Aleppo, to Harford Jones, sent from Aleppo and dated 21 August 1802. The letter forwards reports from Egypt that the evacuation of British forces has been delayed and that reinforcements are heading for the country. Attached are extracts of related letters from Antonio Vondiziano, Vice-Consul in Larnaca (in French), and an informant of John Barker in Rosetta [Rashid] dated 8 July 1802.Physical description: 1 item (8 folios)
Abstract: A letter from Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], to Marquess Wellesley, Governor-General of Bengal, sent from Bagdad and dated 20 June 1802. The letter forwards intercepted letters from a French traveller in Caboul [Kabul], attached. Jones pledges to continue to monitor this correspondence and pass on intelligence. The letter also forwards reports from an informant ‘employed to the Northward’.A duplicate of this letter is catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/76/245.Attached are:1. Two intercepted letters from a French author in Caboul to correspondents in Paris and Spanish Biscay, dated March 1802. The author recounts his journey across India via Cachemire [Kashmir] to Caboul in a period of civil war, and his hopes to travel to Candahar [Kandahar] and Persia [Iran] and return home.Duplicates of these letters are catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/76/238 and 247. English translations are catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/76/235-2372. Translations of two letters from an informant of Harford Jones dated 3 and 8 May 1802.The letters concern Russian activity in the Caucasus and Caspian Sea, reporting: movements of Russian troops and ships; embassies from Shaku [Shaki] and Shirvan [Sirvan] to Tehran seeking assistance against Russia; and the planned flight of Armenian merchants from Baku, Enzelee [Bandar-e Anzali], Ghilan [Gilan], and Tehran in anticipation of conflict.Duplicates of these letter are catalogued as IOR/L/PS/9/76/243.Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)
Abstract: Copies of two letters from Harford Jones, Resident in Bagdad [Baghdad], to Marquess Wellesley, Governor-General of Bengal, sent from Bagdad and dated 14 May 1801.The first letter concerns the transit of mail and reports of a proposed Franco-Russian attack on India via Persia [Iran]. Jones undertakes to monitor developments around the Caspian Sea and to warn his contact Meerza Bozourg [Mīrzā ‘Īsá Khān Farāhānī, Vizier to the Crown Prince of Persia] against Russian advances, and volunteers to travel to the Persian Court if a Russian agent arrives there. Jones also reiterates his proposal of a joint diplomatic mission to Caboul [Kabul] with the Porte [Government of the Ottoman Empire].The second letter proposes British mediation between Shah Zemaun [Zamān Shāh Durrānī, Ruler of Afghanistan] and his exiled brothers who are supported by Baba Khan [Fatḥ-‘Alī Shāh Qājār, Shāh of Persia].Physical description: 1 item (4 folios)