Abstract: The file concerns the possibility of establishing an international Conservancy Board for the Shatt-el-Arab (also referred to as the Shatt-al-Arab) between the governments of Iraq, Iran (also referred to as Persia), and the United Kingdom.The board was intended to ensure the efficient maintenance and navigation of the Shatt-al-Arab waterway. The United Kingdom was involved because of the close interests of British shipping in the conservancy of the Shatt-al-Arab.The papers cover: Perso-Iraqi frontier negotiations; drafts, signing (July 1937), and ratification (June 1938) of the Perso-Iraqi Frontier Treaty; Turkish approval of the frontier negotiations; the signing of the four power non-aggression pact between Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan (the Saad-Abad [Saadabad] Pact), 1937; Abadan anchorage; Foreign Office memoranda and minutes of meetings concerning a convention for the conservancy of the Shatt-al-Arab; the question of British participation in the convention; lighting and buoying; the involvement of Sir John Ward [serving with the Iraqi Government] in the discussions; the opposition of the Iranian Government to British involvement; the involvement of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC); the Port of Basra (including Foreign Office memorandum, folios 77-83); the Rooka Channel; and renewed discussion of the issue in 1945, including the importance of the Shatt-al-Arab for tanker traffic to supply Britain's war needs in the Far East.The main correspondents are the Foreign Office, the British Ambassador to Iraq, and HM Minister, Tehran.The French language content of the file consists of approximately twenty folios of diplomatic correspondence and treaties.There are no papers in the file dated 1941-44.The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: this file consists of two physical parts. The foliation sequence commences at the first folio of part one (ff 1-169) and terminates at the last folio of part two (ff 170-329); 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; these numbers are printed, but are not circled. A previous foliation sequence, which is circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The front and back conservation covers (parts one and two), have not been foliated.
Abstract: Letter and Enclosures to HM Secretary of State for India, dated 20 December 1871, concerning the settlement of the frontier between Persia and Khelat [Kalāt], in Beloochistan [Baluchistan]. The frontier settlement mission was led by Major-General Frederick John Goldsmid.The papers include: correspondence from Charles Alison, HBM's Minister at Teheran [Tehran]; correspondence from Goldsmid; the Persian Government's acceptance of the frontier settlement; reports of diplomatic contacts with the Persian Minister of Foreign Affairs; the raising by the Persian Government of a question over the status of Kohuk; and the congratulations of the Government of India to Goldsmid and his staff for the conduct of the settlement.The Enclosures are dated 13 August - 19 December 1871.Physical description: There is an Abstract of Contents on folios 583-584, numbered 1-19.
Abstract: Letter and Enclosures to HM Secretary of State for India, dated 31 October 1871, concerning the settlement of the opposing claims of Persia and Afghanistan to Seistan [Sistan]. The papers lead up to the establishment of a commission of arbitration of the Seistan boundary, under the adjudication of Major-General Frederick John Goldsmid.The papers cover: précis of correspondence concerning the Perso-Khelat [Kalāt] boundary settlement; background to the dispute between the two countries over the Seistan boundary; correspondence from Goldsmid, setting out a framework for the arbitration, and reporting the progress of negotiations; correspondence from Charles Alison, HBM's Minister at Teheran [Tehran], reporting the attitude of the Persian Government; a reported increase of Persian forces in Seistan, June-July 1871; instructions for the commencement of survey work in the area; British action to induce the ruler of Afghanistan to abstain from hostilities; and a letter from the Viceroy to the Amir of Cabul [Kabul] concerning the Seistan arbitration, 31 October 1871.The Enclosures are dated 25 March - 31 October 1871.Physical description: There is an Abstract of Contents on folios 428-432, numbered 1-46.
Abstract: Letter and Enclosures to HM Secretary of State for India, dated 31 October 1871, concerning the settlement and demarcation of the frontier between Persia and Khelat [Kalāt], in Beloochistan [Baluchistan]. The frontier settlement mission was led by Major-General Frederick John Goldsmid.The papers cover: correspondence and reports from Goldsmid on the progress of negotiations over a settlement; correspondence from Charles Alison, HBM's Minister at Teheran [Tehran], reporting on diplomatic contacts with the Persian Foreign Ministry; report of a meeting with the Shah of Persia, 7 August 1871; memorandum of statements made by the Persian Government in March 1871, with Goldsmid's replies, 1 August 1871; memoranda of interviews with the Persian Minister of Foreign Affairs; report on the actual frontier line, July 1871; and correspondence from the Persian Commissioner.The Enclosures are dated 17 July - 24 October 1871.Physical description: There is an Abstract of Contents on folios 384-385, numbered 1-24.
Abstract: This file consists of a letter, reports, notes and maps regarding Persia’s frontiers. The Research Department of the Foreign Office produced a report, dated 31 January 1947, covering each frontier in turn. Two maps are included with the report.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 13; 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 file comprises telegrams, letters with enclosures, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the examination of the Persian Government's attitude towards the Turko-Persian frontier settlement of 1914. The discussion in the correspondence is in response to a letter from an official of the Government of Persia over a matter concerning water rights in which it was stated that 'the frontier delimitation made in 1914 is not regarded as official'.The discussion in the file relates to the British drafting of a response from the Government of Iraq to the Persian delegation in Baghdad in view of the British perception that this was the first challenge of the Imperial Persian Government to the validity of the frontier settlement of 1914.The principal correspondents are: the Counsellor to the High Commissioner for Iraq (R S M Sturges); the High Commissioner for Iraq (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Francis Henry Humphreys); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Iraq (Abdullah Al Damluji); the Secretary of State for the Colonies (James Henry Thomas).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 575, and terminates at f 583, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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.
Abstract: The file concerns an enquiry requesting information on the frontiers of Koweit [Kuwait] with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the Neutral Zone of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.Correspondents include: H T Kemp of Britannic House, on behalf of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company Limited [BP]; and the India Office.The file includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 6; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This file consists of a single letter from the Foreign Office to the Commonwealth Relations Office requesting a copy of earlier correspondence regarding Saudi Arabian Frontiers.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 3; these numbers are written in pencil and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of a Political Despatch from the Government of India's Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 14 July 1873 and received by the India Office's Political Department on 12 August 1873, forwarding copies of papers regarding difficulties on the Turko-Persian [Ottoman-Iranian] frontier.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 201, and terminates at f 231, 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. The sequence contains three foliation insertion anomalies: f 201a, f 211a, and f 221a.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 1 September 1873 and received by the India Office Secret Department on 30 September 1873, forwarding copies of a letter from the Minister at Teheran [Tehran] to Lord Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, explaining the grounds of his belief that the completion of a railway between the Caspian [Sea] and Teheran would be fatal to the independence of Persia [Iran].Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 244, and terminates at f 248, 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. The sequence contains two foliation anomalies: f 244a and f 246a.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 3 January 1873 and received by the India Office Secret Department on 1 February 1873, forwarding copies of papers (some of which are in French) regarding the difficulties which exist on the Persian-Turko Frontier, in continuation of Political Despatch No. 136 of 1 July 1872, and with reference to the Secretary of State for India’s despatch No. 120 of 18 October 1872.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 6, and terminates at f 28a, 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. The sequence contains eight foliation anomalies: f 6a, 7a, 13a, 14a, 15a, 21a, 22a, and 28a.
Abstract: This item consists of copies of a Political Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secretary of State for India, dated 21 February 1873, forwarding a copy of a report from the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia [Iraq], No. 45 of 13 December 1872, regarding the difficulties on the Turco-Persian [Turkish-Iranian] frontier.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 71, and terminates at f 105a, 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.The sequence contains eight foliation insertion anomalies (e.g. 71a, 72a, 73a etc.).