'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎102v] (204/344)

181.
Part VI—Chap. XLI-A.
I would therefore, as Your Highnesses sincere friend and well-wisher, strenuously recommend
Your Highness to avail yourself of the first favourable opportunity which may offer to bring
to an amicable and honorable conclusion the differences unhappily existing between Your
Highness and the Ootoobees being fully persuaded that by adopting this course Your Highness
will be consulting your own interest and will conduce in a greater measure to the restoration
of that peace and tranquillity in the Gulph which it is the earnest desire of this Government
should be preserved.
Such is the advice which Your Highnesses sincere friend I consider it incumbent on me
to offer you in the present juncture of your affairs, and for further information on this and all
other points I beg to refer Your Highness to Major Wilson who has been furnished with the
instructions of Government as to the line of conduct to be pursued on the present occasion.
No. 44, dated Bushire, the 19th May 1829.
From— Lieutenant-Colonel D. Wilson , Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To— William Newnham , Esq., Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. .
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 448, dated 17th April
1829, enclosing a letter to be forwarded by me to the address of His Highness the Imam of
Muscat, and intimating that it would afford the Honorable the Governor in Council much
satisfaction to learn that an opportunity had offered for the exercise of my influence to effect
a reconciliation between the Imam and the Chief of Bahrein, so that the tranquillity of the
Gulf may be placei on a permanent footing.
2. It appeared to me of importance that the letter of the Honorable the Governor
should reach His Highness immediately, and that 1 should be acquainted with his views after
its receipt, as soon as possible, particularly as I und erstand his preparations for renewing his
attack on Bahrein are in some state of forwardness. I have therefore taken up a small boat
for the purpose of accomplishing this service in the quickest manner, and 1 trust that this
measure will be sanctioned.
3. In forwarding the Honorable the Governor's letter I addressed a few lines from
myself; His Highness is well aware of |my being a strenuous advocate for peace, but here
seemed an opportunity of saying a word more, and I embraced it. It is difficult to get an
Arab to acknowledge that he wishes a mediator, his saying so looks in his estimation like an
acknowledgment of weakness. I thought therefore that I might on this point be more likely
to ascertain His Highness's real wishes through a third person, than directly from himself,
and consequently wrote the accompanying note to our Agent at Muskat to whom 1 could
more freely and precisely define that 1 could not guarantee anything in any way and that
I could only speak as a friend/' To increase the chance of an opening for negotiation,
addressed a similar note to the Agent at Bahrein.
4. His Highness the Imam's late defeat at Bahrein, the successful capture by the Utoo-
bies, and others who have joined in the war, of a few boats from the people of iMuskat, and
of His Highness's allies, and the want of successes on his part to counterbalance those of his
enemies, are circumstances which have tended as much to diminish the former estimate of
His Highoess's power, as to raise the spirits of his enemies, and probably if His Highness
should delay long in proceeding against them, they might seek him in his very capital. The
Utoobies, even when his fleet was at Bahrein in force, loudly proclaimed that they would never
again consent to pay him tribute which they had done only because they feared our inter
ference.
5. Unless, therefore, His Highness should obtain some little success to raise the estimate
of his power to its former standard, I |hould despair of seeing matters brought back even to
the state in which they were before the war broke out. But even if His Highness would
consent to admit our mediation, we ought to look most attentively to circumstances before we
negociate anything that would be derogatory in any very considerable degree, to so devoted
an ally. Even if his judgment have erred in entering upon the war, still he is looked
upon by all as one who has great claims on our countenance, and in extremity, our assistance.
We have of late had many opportunities of evincing that we are determined not to mix in the
constant quarrels, and petty affairs, of the small States of this Gulf, that we are above all
such trifling concerns, and not to be influenced by them, but we may have to consider what
our own loss might be, if a very devoted and generally a most obedient ally be brought too
low. There are inconveniences in all alliances that must be endured, and none are more full
of them than those between great and very small States.
6. I shall watch attentively the progress of the affairs in question, taking on all occasions
when circumstances will admit, the orders of the Government on any new occurrences. It is
only bee vise references from this distance require so long a time, that I frequently feel called
upon to enter more into the details of many subjects than I otherwise should, that the
Government observing anything it may deem erroneous in my sentiments, may command
accordingly.