'Memorandum on the Drafts of Despatches regarding the Affairs of Muscat and Zanzibar' [28v] (6/24)
The record is made up of 12 folios. It was created in 15-20 Jul 1868. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
6
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
About this item
- Content
Printed memorandum, written by Henry Bartle Frere, member of the Council of India, London, between 15 and 20 July 1868. The document broadly discusses British imperial policy in Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , East Africa, and Western India. Its specific foci include the Zanzibar subsidy (payable to Muscat), Persia's desire for a naval presence in the Gulf, the suppression of piracy, the preferred nationality of the Agent at Muscat, and the protection of British subjects trading in the region. The memorandum contains proposals for change in the way the region is administered.
Several postscripts consist of extensive extracts from correspondence between Frere and John Lawrence, Viceroy of India, between 23 March 1866 and 12 June 1866. Included within this is a table of trade statistics entitled: Statement showing the Value of Trade between the Port of Bombay and Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (including Muscat), during the last five years, viz., from 1860-61 to 1864-65, as compared with the Trade twenty years ago, in 1844-45 , signed by A F Bellasis, Commissioner of Customs, Bombay, 27 March 1866.
- Extent and format
- 12 folios
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: ff 26-37.
Pagination: there is an original, printed pagination system, from 1 to 24.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B2/3
- Title
- 'Memorandum on the Drafts of Despatches regarding the Affairs of Muscat and Zanzibar'
- Pages
- 26r:37v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence