"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٣‎٧‎٩] (١٧٨٢/٥٢٢)

2s:-? s
v
379
In April 1905 a new project was brought forward by the Admiralty.
It was that the existing arrangements should be terminated, that the duties
carried on in Indian waters by ships of His Majesty's Navy should be
made to devolve on ships of the Royal Indian Marine, and that the
" Sphinx," " Lapwing," and a Redbreast ;; should be handed over to the
Government of India for incorporation with that Marine. The plan was
not acceptable to the Government of India. They foresaw certain advan
tages from it in the shape of more immediate control by themselves over
a portion of the Naval force in Indian waters, in the formation of a body
of officers possessing special local qualifications, and in an enhancement of
the status of the Royal Indian Marine ; but they held that these would be
outweighed by loss of prestige in the Persian Gulf, where the regular war
vessels of other European nations were now frequently seen, by decreased
naval efficiency, by a serious sacrifice of economy, by imperfect cooperation
between the Royal Navy and the Royal Indian Marine, by the difficulty
of arranging reliefs and consequent prejudice to the health of crews am
by a cessation of direct interest in the Persian Gulf on the part of the
British Admiralty. They therefore adhered to the opinion which they had
expressed in 1902, that the true remedy for the difficulties of the situation
was to arm particular ships of the Royal Indian Marine, when necessary,
as auxiliaries to, but not as substitutes for, ships of the Royal ^Na\y.
The scheme of the Admiralty was not in the end adopted, and the arrange
ments introduced in 1904 consequently continued in force. The specia
lights-draught vessel suggested by the Government of India was not,
however, provided.
In June 1903 the British political representatives at Bushehr, Masqat,
Bandar 'Abhas and Lingeh were made responsible for informing t e
Admiralty by telegram in fntnre of the arrival, departure and destination
of foreign men-of-war and transports which might touch at their ports.
The question of the official salutes to he fired by vessels of the Royal Sate.
Navy in the Persian Gulf was settled in 1900, the following seale
receiving the sanction of His Majesty's Government:-
OccaBion.
Time.
Birthday Ol Her Majesty the Queen (every
where in the Persian Gulf).
At noon on the 24th
May in each year.
Proclamation day of Her Imperial Majesty the At
Queen-Empress of India (everywhere in the
Persian Gulf).
noon on the 1st
January in each year
Number of
guns.
31
31
. JMi