'Sirri Island Occupation by the Persian Govt. 1887-1902'

Content

This file contains correspondence concerning the Persian claim to the island of Sirrī, as well as their claim to and occupation of that place. In addition there is information concerning rival claims by Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. rulers, details concerning Dubai pearl divers on the island and details concerning other Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. islands, including Abu Musa [Abū Mūsá] and Tanb [Ṭanb].

The correspondence in this file is between the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. at Bushire; ‘Abd al-Qasim and ‘Abd al-Laṭīf, Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agents at Sharjah; Āghā Muḥammad Amīn Badr, Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent at Lingah [Bandar-e-Lengeh]; Ṣaqr bin Khālid Āl Qāsimī One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , ruler of Sharjah; Maktūm bin Ḥashr Āl Maktūm, ruler of Dubai; and various British officials in the Foreign Department of the Government of India. There are also copies of correspondence between India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and Foreign Office officials.

Folio 2 is an index, and folios 4-9 are a precis of documents within the file for folios 10-115. Subjects covered include: Persian flag hoisted on Sirri [Sirrī] (folios 18, 48); Persian refusal to remove the flag (folios 127-131); Memorandum by the Resident on Persian refusal (folios 141-144); Hajji Ahmad Khan [Hājjī Aḥmad Khān]'s Report (folios 80-93); Legation correspondence with the Persian Foreign Office (folios 70-77); Documents tendered in support of the Persian claim (folio 52-59); Shaikh of Shargah [Sharjah]'s claims to Sirri (folios 27-28); Persian claim to Abu Musa island (folio 80); Shaikh of Debai [Dubai] complains of pearl divers absconding to Sirri and the Persian Coast (folios 116-118, 154-160, 167-190); Chief of Ras El Khaimah [Ras al-Khaymah]'s claim to Tanb island (folios 22, 209).

Notable documents within the file include: a precis of correspondence about occupation of the island of Sirri (folios 109-113); a report entitled Question of the status of the Island of Sirri (ff. 165-166); a report by the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent at Lingah on the island of Sirri in Persian and English translation (ff. 200-202); correspondence with Sir Mortimer Durand regarding the island of Sirri (folios 211-215); and a statement by the Shaikh of Sharjah (f. 65).

Extent and format

1 volume (235 folios)

Arrangement

The file is arranged approximately in chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation number is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. It begins on the third folio after the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the last folio of writing, on number 227. The file contains the following foliation amendments: folio 1 is followed by folios 1A and 1B; no folio 3; folio 92 is followed by folio 92A; folio 156 is followed by folio 156A; folio 171 is followed by folio 171A.

Written in

English, Arabic and Persian in Latin and Arabic script

Type

Letter book

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/R/15/1/196

Former external reference(s)

668 B10 I

History of this record

Date(s)

18 Sep 1887-27 Jun 1902 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Boundary disputes

Places

Abu Musa IslandTanbSirri

People & organisations

Government of India, Foreign and Political DepartmentEmir of Dubai, Āl Maktūm dynastyEmir of Sharjah, Āl Qāsimī dynastyNative Agent, LingahGovernment of Persia, Qajar dynastyNative Agent, Trucial Coast, SharjahIndia Office

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Cite this record in your research

'Sirri Island Occupation by the Persian Govt. 1887-1902', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/196, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000193.0x0000a9> [accessed 28 February 2025]

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