'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎165r] (329/344)

Part VIII—Chap. LXXII.
309
3. Mr. Blane, as stated in Mr. Chief Secretary Norris' letter of the 4th instant^ having
arrived at the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. on leave of absence, an early opportunity was taken of obtaining
from that gentleman his opinion on certain points discussed in the Honourable Court's
despatch, and I have now the honour to transmit for the purpose of being laid before His Ex
cellency the Right Honourable the Governor-General of India in Council, a copy of a letter
from him containing bis sentiments on the proposed arrangement for abolishing 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. .
4. Mr. Blane has resided at Bushire for upwards of two years and a half and has con
ducted the duties 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. to tin entire satisfaction of this Government ; he has
avoided with singular address and management all the evils anticipated by the Honourable
Court from an interference on the part of the British political authority at Bushire in the
quarrels of the Persian and Arab Chiefs, To Mr. Blane's opinion therefore the Right Honour
able the Governor in Council attaches great weight and entirely considers it due to that officer
to state, that he doubts exceedingly whether any young assistant sent to Bushire to discharge
the same duties would have got rid ot the many perplexing affairs he had to manage with
equal dexterity even with the inducement held out to him of eventual promotion as the reward
of his exertions. His Lordship in Council is moreover of opinion that business remaining as
at present, inefficiency will be the result of the change, and referring, not so much to the
quantity as to the quality of the work to be performed, should be very sorry to exchange
a Resident for an Assistant of probably less experience and judgment.
5. The Right Honourable the Governor in Council cannot discover one single advantage
in placing the Arab and other piratical Chiefs under the supervision of the Envoy in Persia.
In the first place, the Envoy has no knowledge of them and takes no interests in their affairs,
and in the next place, it is of vital importance that the authority on the spot should be
empowered to act on his own judgment and responsibility in order to admit of the instant
application of force so justly dwelt upon by the Honourable Court.
6. In considering this subject it is of importance to bear in mind that all the British
interests in Persia are at this moment actually placed under one superintendence, that of the
Envoy, for the Resident is strictly prohibited from interfering, and in fact never does interfere
in Persian politics, and that for many years past the suppression of piracy has been the chief
proposed object of the establishment in the Gulph. For suoh purpose in the opinion of the
Governor in Council, a Political Officer of experience with an adequate force at his disposal if
requisite, for it is hardly to be expected that the assistant could possess the same weight with
even the officers of the Indian Navy and still less if the duty as recommended by His Excel
lency the Right Honourable the Governor-General, shall hereafter be performed by the Royal
Navy. The control over the Naval forca being vested in his superior at Tabriz except in
cases of emergency, and as there is a wide distinction between the protection of British trade
and the suppression of piracy, these cas >8 of emergenoy will frequently occur, and it may so
happen that future embarrassment will be experienced when old Captains in the Royal or
Indian Navy shall be placed at the disposal of a young assistant. It would in the opinion of
the Governor in Council be better at once to retire from the position we have taken in the
Gulph than to run any risk of impairing the efficiency of the present system.
7. The monthly cost of the establishment in Gulph amounts to H4,690 ; the Honourable
Court anticipates a large saving by the proposed exchange to this point the Resident's atten
tion has been directed and except a prospective saving of about 100 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per mensem in
the salary of the Treasurer. Should the duties of that office be transferred to one of the clerks
on the Resident's establishment no reduction can be made.
8. The Finance Committee fixed the salary of the Resident at B,2,100 per mensem and
abolished the situation of Assistant. The Governor in Council is not inclined to recommend
either the one or the other, referring to the qualities required of the individual selected and
to the inexpediency of leaving that remote station with only rme European officer. A medical
officer is absolutely necessary, but possibly hereafter the duties of the Surgeon and Assistant
might be combined.
9. I am further desired to state that His Lordship in Council foresees nothing but
embarrassment in this Government taking upon itself the responsibility of furnishing the
Assistant with instructions as suggested in the latter part ot the 17th paragraph of the Hon
ourable Court's despatch quoted in the 1st paragraph of this letter, and has no hesitation in
saying that he would feel great repugnance in giving directions to an officer belonging to
another Government and not placed under the sole control of this Government.
10. In the event, however, of the Residenjy being abolished the Right Honourable the
Governor in Council is of opinion that all the records should be sent to Calcutta and that tins
Government ought to have no more communication with the Assistant at Bushire than it has
now with the Envoy at Tehran.
] 1. Under the above stated circumstances the Right Honourable the Governor in Council
trusts that His Excellency the Right Honourable the Governor-General ot India in Council
will consent to leave the question at issue to the decision of the Honourable the Court ot
Directors.
It appears that as a result of this protest, the status quo was allowed to be
maintained.
£ r 2