'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎83r] (165/344)

part V-Chap. XXXIII.
145
\e has been pleased to remove you from your appointment of Resident at Bushire and to
direct you to return to Bombay, delivering overcharge of the factory An East India Company trading post. at Bushire to the Surgeon
at 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. , and of all instructions relating to the general politics of the Gulf to
Lieutenant-Colonel Kennett.
289. The following is the draft of a letter, a Persian translation of which
was signed and addressed by the Governor of Bombay to Ilis Hoyal Ilighness
Hossein Ali Mirza, the Prince Regent of Pars :—
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Royal Highnepe's letter, and am
most sensible of the friendly feelings and grateful for the sentiments of regard with which
you are pleased to honour me. The allusions in your Royal Highness s letter to negotiation*
with Captain Bruce have since been explained by a treaty forwarded by that gentleman.
It is a subject of much concern to this Government to find that Captain Bruce has thui
exceeded his powers, and I, therefore, lose no time in apprising Your Royal Highness of tht
mistake into which that gentleman has fallen.
It is proper to explain clearly to your Royal Highness that Captain Bruce had been
merely directed to return to his duty at Bushire, and had received no authority to proceed to
Shiraz, and no powers or credentials to enter on any negotiation whatever with your Royal
Highness; the treaty which he has concluded is, therefore, his own act, and not that of
this Government. I accordingly disavow it, and desire it to be considered exactly as if it
had never been written.
After this declaration it is unnecessary to discuss the articles of the treaty. 1
appears necessary, however, for me to remark that it is not the intention of this Government
to take any part in the claims of the several powers and States of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. further
than may be necessary to prevent a renewal of piracy. With respect to the flag said to have
been granted to the Attabees, the fact is, that by the treaty concluded by Sir W. G. Keit
with all the Arab Chiefs in the Gulf, it is agreed that, for the purpose of distinguishing the
pirates from those who abstain from piracy, the latter should carry a white square within %
red flag ; this being the case, there can be nothing in the flag to give offence to Persia, as
there is not the smallest connection between it and the British flag, nor the smallest
pretension to superiority on the part of the British Government.
With regard to Kishm, I had long since applied to the Most Noble the Governor-
General for his consent for the recall of the detachment, and having now obtained it, the
troops have already been ordered to return, and the island to be made over to the Imaum of
Maskat,from whom it was received by the British Government; but in doing so, this Gov
ernment is actuated by considerations of its own convenience ; and with respect to the claime
of the Government of Persia on that island, they have not as yet been proved.
The embarrassment Captain Bruce's mistake must lead to is much regretted by thii
Government, but I beg leave to assure you that my respect for your Royal Highness and
my wish to preserve the friendly relations between the British and Persian Governments
undiminished. I trust, therefore, that Your Royal Highness will not allow any distrust to
enter your mind on account of this unauthorized and unforeseen proceeding of Captain
Bruce.
I beg leave to apprize Your Royal Highness that that officer has been recalled to India,
and that another gentleman will be appointed to succeed him, who will make it his businesg
to cultivate and improve the existing friendship.
Your Royal Highness's correspondence will at all times be a source of much gratification
and any commissions you may have in the quarter shall be promptly executed.
290. Translation of an Agreement proposed by Sis R oyal H iqeness M ussei#
A li M irza through his Minister Z eki K san and discussed between him
and W illiam B ruce, Esq., Resident of Bushire, on 8th August 1832,
Preamble.
As the arrangement and settlement of the affairs of subjects are entrusted
to Kings and their Governors, and the prosperity of the States depends upon,
the unanimity and friendship existing between Governors of ad joining Provinces
for this purpose, the States of Great Britain and Persia entered into terms of
amity and good understanding, that the subjects of each and their forces
might enjoy tranquillity and prosperity, the Governors of Provinces adjacent
had maintained this appearance and had rested satisfied without actually
fulfilling them. Two years previous to this it became necessary to suppress
the piratical acts committed by the Joasmis (?) for which purpose troops
arrived from India in the Gulf of Persia and a few acts were committed by
them erroneously which did not accord with the good understanding existing
with this State, in consequence of which His Royal Highness Hussein Ali
Mirza deemed it advisable for the good of his Government to make known