'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎69v] (138/344)

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Part V—Chap. XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAINTAINING SECURITY IN THE
. GULF: PROPOSED BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN THE GULF.
REMOVAL OF THE BRITISH DETACHMENT FROM RAS-IIL-
KHIMA TO THE ISLAND OF KISHM, 1820.
(i) (1) QUESTION OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAINTAINING SECURITY IN THE GULF
(2) QUESTION OF REMOVING OUR 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. FROM BUSIIIRE AND PROPOSED
BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN THE GULF.
235. The attention of the Government having been directed to a consi-
Volume 52-49 of 1820'1821. deration of the ultimate arrangements
that it might be necessary to make for the
purpose of maintaining the security of the navigation of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on
the termination of the expedition, they were desirous of availing themselves of
the professional experience of Sir William Keir, and addressed him therefore
the following communication on the 28th October 1819 :—
f< Thfl attention of the Ri»ht Honourable the Governor in Council having been directed to a
consideration of the ulterior arrangement which it may be necessary to form for the purpose
of maintaining the security of the navigation of the Gulf, on the termination of the present
expedition, is desirous of availing himself of your professional experience in the decision of
the important question.
The Governor in Council is satisfied that the object thus contemplated cannot, from the
distracted state in which the Gulf has so long continued, arising out of the decline of
the influence of those authorities which formerly exercised a control over it and of the
ascendancy of the Power whose avowed views have been the prosecution of piracy be
attained without the interposition of the British Government in a more active degree than
it has hitherto been our policy to adopt.
As a measure the most effectually conducive to the permanent suppression of piracy on
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the occupation by the British Government of a central and commanding
situation appears to be indispensable; nor is the Governor in Council aware of a more
eligible station than the Island of Kishm for that purpose, upon which, however, your oninion
is desired. ^
The next object for consideration is the formation of an establishment in the most
economical scale, under a prospect of deriving from the customs of the port a revenue
Bumcient for its support, which under the arrangement the trade would experience from the
British protection might be expected.
The transfer of 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. from Bushire to the new station would supply all that
appears to be essential to the political branch of the establishment, and the maintenance of
the same number of cruizers and the presence of one of His Majesty's ships of war as have
been for some time back kept in the Gulf, would furnish a maritime force without any
enhancement of the expense, which has been hitherto increased for the security of its navi
gation.
Tlie factory An East India Company trading post. was originally established at Bushire to promote the vend of British o-oods in
the interior of Persia by large consignments from Bombay. The more successful mode how
ever in which the vend has been promoted within these few years back by periodical sale at the
Kesuieney nas entirely superseded the necessity for continuing a commercial factory An East India Company trading post. at Bushire
• *if whatever advantages may be connected with our possessing an establishment
m the lersian dominions, independently of that which is maintained by His Maiestv's
Government at Tehran for the protection of the commercial interest of this country and for
preserving the political relations which have for so long a period subsisted between the Indian
and tlie Persian Governments, could he secured more effectually probably at such an Island at
Ktshm as at Bushire.
The only additional expense there to which the British Government would be exposed by
the transfer of the Bushire 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. to a more commanding situation in the Gulf would
arise only of the military establishment which it would be necessary to maintain either at
Kishm or any other station which you may prefer. Your opinion is therefore desired on the
extent of torce it may be necessary to keep in the Gulf, in the formation of which you will
not fail to hear in mind that our security will principally depend, the more especially if an
JiJaiia be selected for the new establishment upon our maritime force.