'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎149r] (297/344)

Part VII—Chap. LXIV.
277
Lieutenant-Colonel Shirreff be specially selected to command the expedition, and be directed
to place himself under the political control of the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
13. That the Commissariat Department be directed to provision the troops for a
period of six weeks; that all indents connected with the expedition be passed as on emergent
service, and that all expenses incurred be debited to the Government of India.
14. 12th —That Captain Hennell be directed to make the best arrangement in bis power
for landing the troops, he being informed that the island of Karrack appears to this Govern
ment to be the most convenient spot for this purpose, and that he be also informed that the
troops are placed under his political control, subject to the instructions of the Envoy in Persia.
15. 13th —That copy of Mr. Secretary Macnaghten's letter of the 1st instant, and of its
enclosure, be transmitted to Captain Hennell in explanation of His Lordship's views in order
ing this demonstration,
16. That the Resident be directed to apprise the Envoy in Persia of the arrival of
these troops, and of their being placed entirely at His Excellency's disposal.
17. ^5^—That the Kesident be directed to apprise the Persian authorities at Bushire that
the troops are sent on a special service to the Gulf, and that the British Government hope
that they will make no objection to iheir being landed at Karrack and that they will afford
every aid in effecting that object, Captain Henntll being informed that it is left to his discre
tion to land them on that island even in opposition to the wishes of those authorities, provided
he deems this necessary and expedient, and that it can be done without compromising the
safety of the troops.
18. 16th—'Ih&i the despatches recently received from the Governor-General to the Envoy
in Persia be forwarded by the Semiramis, together with duplicates of the despatches of this
Government to be sent by the 1 igrit.
19. 17th —That copy of Mr. Secretary Macnaghten's letter and enclosure of the Ist
instant, and copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the Hon'ble the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. of
the Court of Directors The London-based directors of the East India Company who dealt with the daily conduct of the Company's affairs. by the Hon'ble Company's Steamer Berenice.
20. 18th —That copy of these resolutions be immediately transmitted to tlie Governor-
General, and the Government of India, with an intimation that beinj; unable to carry into,
effect literally the instructions of the Supreme Government, we have felt it our duty to comply
in the best manner our means will permit with those instructions in a case in which the inter-
ests of the British Empire may be materially and perhaps vitally involved.
R, GRANT.
19th May 1838.
537, The Resident (Lieutenant-Colonel Hennell) in his letter No. 801, dated
Volume 1878—963 ot 1833-1839. 20 ^ f" 110 1838. reported that feeling
perfectly certain that any application to
the local authorities of Bushire for permission to land the troops at Karrak
would either be refused or evaded under the pretext of want of powers and the
necessity of previously making a reference to Shiraz, it appeared to him better
to locate the detachment at once upon the island, taking it for granted that no
objection could or would be raised to such an arrangement, than to do so after
permission had been denied. The island of Karrak abounded with wells and
springs of excellent water, but it was scantily inhabited and great difficulty
would be felt in regard to provisions. This it was hoped, however, could be
imported from the ports of Bushire, Banderik and Genawa.
538, Mirza Abbas, the Governor of Bushire, was duly informed by the
Resident on 2l8t June 1838 that the troops had been sent up the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
upon a special service in those seas, and that on account of the superiority of
Karrak over Bassidore and every other island in point of climate, the troops
had been landed there. At the same time a request was made that the Gov
ernor would show every kindness and afford every assistance to the troops,
especially in allowing boats to carry over supplies from Bushire. The Govern
nor replied that he had reported the matter to the higher authorities, but that
there was no objection to the transport of supplies (letter dated 21st June
1838 from Mirza Abbas to the Resident).
539, The Prince of Shiraz soon afterwards sent a Rukum Royal grants confirming specific trading privileges from the Shah of Persia. to the Resident
asking for explanation of the British proceedings in landing troops at Karrak,
to which the Resident replied in conciliatory terms and giving the same
explanation as given to Mirza Abbas (letter dated 11th July 1838).