'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎142r] (288/386)

tln£ a brief report. In an appendix to this letter are enclosed copies of the
yarious speeches which I was called upon to make in the course of my j >urney
and which will be referred to in their several contexts.
2. My main object in undertaking a visit to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was, as I
informed Lord George Hamilton in my letter (Secret) No 148 of 17th
September, to visit the Arab Sheikhs who are in treaty relations with the British
Government, and to show by my presence the intention of Ilis Majesty’s
Government to maintain their political and commercial ascendency in those
waters. But I was fortunate in being able to carry out a separate and perhaps
even more important task. Accompained as I was by Rear-Admiral G. Atkinson-
AVilles and the vessels of the East Indian Squadron, from whom I received a
courtesy and assistance for which I desire to express my warmest acknowledg
ments to the Board of Admiralty—I was enabled, in conjunction with the
Admiral, to make a close study on the spot of the question of naval ports,
bases, coaling stations, telegraph stations, and anchorages in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
which has been so much under official discussion in recent years ; and to arrive
at conclusions which will be separatelv reported to you, and in which I was
fortunate in finding myself in complete agreement with the Naval Commander-
in-Chief. Simultaneously the presence of Sir Arthur Hardinge, His Majesty’s
Minister at Tehran, who joined me at Maskat and accompanied me through the
greater part of my cruise, afforded me the opportunity of discussing with him
many matters of importance concerning our policy and position in Persia, and
of arriving at an understanding on several disputed points. The results of these
discussions will also be separately reported.
3. Arriving at Karachi on 16th November, I was received there by the
Admiral, and sailed on the same afternoon in the R.I.M.S. “ Hardinge,”
accompanied by Has Excellency in his flagship the “ Hyacinth,” and by the
following ships of the East Indian Squadron, viz., the “ Eox ” and “ Pomone ”
and by H M S. “ Argonaut,” which by the courtesy of the First Lord of the
Admiralty had been ordered to join the fleet, while on its way home from the
China St ation. During our cruise we also had at our disposal for shorter
expeditions or for postal and telegraphic purposes HM.S “Sphinx,” HM.S.
“ Lapwing,” the R.I.M.S. “ Lawrence,” and the Indo-European Telegraph
ship “ Patrick Stewart.”
4. Early on the morning of 18th November we arrived at Maskat, and
stayed there until the following evening. During the time official visits were
exchanged with the Sultan, I received an address from the Indian traders in
Fnpirsure No i Maskat territory, and I held a Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). on
Ditto No. ii. bo ml the “ Argonaut,” followed by the
investiture of the Sultan with the G.C I E. Copies of my speeches to the
British Indian subjects and at the Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). are included among tbe enclosures to
this letter. It was not necessary to say in them anything beyond what has been
said before ; although tire circumstances in which the statements and assurances
were now repeated, no doubt invested them with a new and special significance.
His Highness the Saltan on all these occasions conducted himself with simpli- ,
city and dignity, his demeanour was that of a loyal feudatory of the British L
Crown rather than of an independent sovereign, and it is clear that ho trusts *
implicitly to the British Power for support and protection. He did not plead tor J
any further engagements, nor did he seek to extract any fresh pledge. J-he
situation and its surroundings were evidently sufficient in his eyes to confirm
him in reliance upon our friendship, and in an attitude of deference to our
wishes, which is not onlv of good omen for the future, but which reflects the
greatest credit upon Major Cox, the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , whom I appointed to
'Maskat in 1899, and who in little more than four years has converted the ruler
from feelings of suspicion, if not of direct hostility, to those of confidence and J
regard. On the other hand, in proportion as the desire of the Sultan to range
himself so to speak, alongside of the Indian Princes in their relations to the
British Crown was made manifest, so did the incongruity of Ins international
position become more apparent : while the contradiction between the actual
state of affairs—with a ruler, a people, and a trade almost entirely dependent
upon ourselves—and the theoretical status, under which 1 ranee, represented