'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎66v] (132/344)

^12 Part V—Chap. XXVIl.
those ports from those of the other ports of Arabia, but if all are allowed to send oat such
vessels the advantage of ascertaining the port to which each belongs is tot apparent. It was
not from ignorance of the ports from whence piratical vessels issued that we have so lonf been
subjected to their attacks. There appears ground to apprehend that any vessels disposed
to renew the practice of piracy will sail with all their papers ready to show to any ship of
superior strength, and under the colors of the friendly Arabs, those means will at firgt enable
them more easily to deceive our vessels, and when they are detect-d and their Chief declared
our enemy, his breach of the present tieaty exposes him to no consequences which would not
have resu ted from lus piracy had that agreement never been entered into, unless the other Arabs
shouli adhere to their engagement to act against the t), which cannot be generally expected
except m eases where those chiefs have themselves a suffnient interest to induce them to afford
their eo-oppiation. To give efficacy to tiiis stipulation for registers and port clearances, it is
neoefsary that some penalty should be annexed to its non-fulfilment, as it is probable the Arab
Unlets dD not conceive that by promising to furnish the r vessels with such papers they have
subjected them to capture or even detention if they should sail without being so provided.
ru- } l [ 11 would als o ,,e expedient, paiticularly in the event of the consent of the piratical
Chiefs being procured, to limit the size and crews of their vessels, to insert a stipulation that
a ^,V h, ! ts false papers should subject his own boats to seizure, the principal obiect
ot this Stipulation IS to prevent piratical ports from sending out armed vessels under the name
ot uhiets not ad acted to piraoy. The possession of armed ship^ by Chiefs not so addicted is
an advantage to the Bruish Government from the means it affords for resisting predatory
al lacks*
12. I am now directed to communicate the Goveraor in Council's general approval of the
preliminary treaty. The Grovernpr in Council, however, dir-ots me to remark on the stipula
tion for the surrender of all armed vessels at places to which the expedition might proceed he
conceives that the end would have been better answered by demanding the surrender of^ all
such vessels whenever they might be, although the result will probably" be the same, as the
expedition will no doubt proceed to every port where there may be armed vessels belono-iac to
tribes engaged m piracy, ^ 0
13. The Governor in Council is desirous of further explanation of the prohibition in some
oases against the Chiefs sending boats to sea which he observes is not applie i to Hu^suu bin
Kahma and Hussun Bin Allee, although the most likely to employ their boats in disturbing
the tranquillity of the Gulph. 3
1^' The exemption in favor of the Chief of Deebyi at the recommendation of the Imam
of Maskat is cntueiy approved. The agreement with Sheik Boothe the Chief of Boothabee
has the full approbation of the Governor in Council ; it appears to be higlilv expedient to o-ive
every encouragement to Chiefs like him who have never been engaged in piracy.
15. The general stipulation against all piraey appears to the Governor in Council to be a
suthcxent security to His Highness the Imaum and our other allies from the future attacks of
communications as are, however, b-en perfectly judicious,
16 Your communications to the Imaum and to the Prince at Sheorawa recardint^ their
proposed att ick on Bahrein were expresse I with great prudence and are highly "approved on
this subject; I beg to refer you to my letter of the 26th of January. 0
. .I?. I n re f erer, ce to the statement of Captain Bruce alluded to in paragraph 83 that the
British Government is precluded by a treaty with Persia from holding possession of anv island
m the Gulph, I am directed to observe that no such article has been communicated to this
Government. Tue arrangements for reducing the tonnage as reported in pira^raoh 34 ar<»
approved. r & r
18-19. You will have anticipated from the preceding part of this letter as well as from mv
former despatches, that the Governor in Council is unable to concur in the iustice of the
opinion conveyed in paragraphs 37, 38 and 39 regarding the release of Hussein Bin Allee-
1 am however, directed to observe that on this and all other points in which he is compelled
to withhold his full concurrence in the policy you have adopted, he is well aware that from
the necessity which in your ]ulament existed for you acting without instruction? you were
placed ,n a situation of much difficulty and delicacy ; and although his own sentiments are
decided as to the course which could have been expedient, he is fully sensible that you have
been guided in that which you pursued no less by a liberal view of the advantages of your own
Crovernment, than by a laudable regard to the interests of humanity.
20. I have now to add the instructions of the Governor in Council in the manner in which
Bas-ool-Khyma is to be disposed of; and on the nature aud extent of the force to be
permanently stationed in the Persian Gulph.
2h The Governor in Council continues to be of opinion that Ras-ool-Khyma is by no
means an eligible place lor the establishment above alluded to, independently of the risk of
eucb a possession involving us in the disputes of the continent, the number of troops required
to guard it would frustrate the object of its institution, by preventing its sendin- out
s ifficient detachments either to attack piratical vessels at sea or to burn them in their "port^
It may be absolutely necessary to retain possession of it, if it should clearly appear that we
are precluded irom holding any island in the Gulph, aud unless you receive satisfactory proof
of the existence of an agreement tp that effect, you will be pleased to make over Kas-ool-
J^hyma to the Imaum of Mascat, if His Highness should consent to accept it, aud if you