'Memorandum on the Drafts of Despatches regarding the Affairs of Muscat and Zanzibar' [‎28v] (6/24)

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Persia, with one foot in the Caspian sea and the
other in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and she knows that, till
she puts her foot in the stirrup, we shall not wish
ourselves to mount into that saddle.
Russia is equally well assured that we do not
wish to weaken, or to keep weak, either Turkey or
Persia. But if our action, or inaction, has that
effect, the ultimate result is the same to the in
terests of Russia, which cannot help being an aggres
sive power as long as its neighbours are weaker and
less civilized than itself.
(8.) That we cannot devolve on either Persia,
Turkey, or Muscat, or on any two, or all of them
combined, our obligations and responsibilities to
suppress piracy, and to do what is essential to
prevent its revival by arbitrating between hostile
tribes.
The piratical tribes of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. coasts
have never owned, and probably never will own,
allegiance to any other power, whether Arab, Turk,
or Persian. We have treaty engagements with
them, into which they entered partly because we
brought an overwhelming force against them, but
more because they found that we really did not
wish, as all Arab, Tur k, and Persian potentates do,
for territorial aggrandisement. We simply desired
that they should keep the peace at sea, and render
the seas safe for trade.
r l hese treaties are solemn engagements, made
many years ago, and acted on ever since, until
quite lately, when we have been slack in doing our
part, partly because the Government of India
enunciated a perfectly new view of its own inten
tions and responsibilities, and partly because the
ships of the Royal Navy cannot be left in the Gulf
during the hot season, as the ships of the old
Indian Navy used to be, at the call of the
Resident.
11 Muscat nad a really good navy (as she had
few years ago, in the lifetime of Syud Saeed, th
father of Thoweynee • and Majid), it would, c
course, help in many ways to discourage piracj
but it could not suppress it, and Muscat, withou
the revenues of Zanzibar, could hardly now main
tam such a navy.
No naval force which Persia or Turkey coul
organize would be of any use in putting dow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. :
piracy, because Turks and Persians would alway
attempt territorial conquest, and thus rouse th
hostility of the pirate tribes to an extent whicl
would aggravate the evil.
Piracy in these seas is no modem evil. It ha
been, off and on, the main occupation of warlik
tribes, on a barren and unhealthy coast, for man
" les ;, Tl ' c strength of the tribes consists, no
only n their fierce, fanatical, courage, hut in th
rfw t- ’ ea f ™. health y climate, and dangerou
*w n f thelr coa8t ’ which makes it almos
impossible for any civilized foreign Power con
tinuously to hold territorial possession of the whol