'Memorandum on the Drafts of Despatches regarding the Affairs of Muscat and Zanzibar' [‎29r] (7/24)

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Hence, the suppression of piracy depends on the
constant use of a naval force of small armed
vessels, sufficiently strong to coerce any one tribe,
or even all of them combined, but used only to
enforce treaty engagements, or just arbitration
under treaty. Our Indian navy did all that was
required, with from four to eight small sailing
vessels,—the largest, a small 20-gun sloop of war,—
and a steamer or two, always present in the Gulf.
This small force sufficed, because the tribes knew
we had no ulterior objects, and had no designs on
their territorial independence, and were generally,
in a rough way, just and reasonable. Had they
been suspicious of our motives, a much larger force
would have been needed.
Three (3) small, well-armed steamers, of which
two could be always in the Gulf, would be ample
to do the same work now, and to prevent a revival
of piracy; but they must be small, to work on a
shore masked by a network of coral reefs, with
deep channels between. They must be well
manned and armed, for an Arab boat, with 50 to
100 men on board, would never hesitate to board a
vessel double her own tonnage, and, once on the
decks, the Arab pirates, with sword and dagger,
and thorough contempt for life, are formidable
customers, even to well-armed English sailors.
This work cannot be done by Her Majesty’s ships
under existing Admiralty regulations, nor will the
Admiralty ever allow any permanent exceptional
relaxation of their rules in any one sea.
The best course open to us in these seas seems
to me to be : —
1. To have an Indian Commodore,—a young,
active, Post Captain,—to command the war
vessels of the Indian Government, under
the orders of the Viceroy, and paid by the
Indian Government.
2. He should have at least three small, well-
manned and well-armed steamers, for ser
vice in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and he should
command all the other marine of the Indian
Government.
3. His Officers and European seamen should be
volunteers from Her Majesty’s Navy, lent
to the Indian Government for five (5) years
at a time, without prejudice to their pro
spects or promotion in the Royal Navy,
and subject to recal when wanted by the
Admiralty.
4. Legislation will be requisite to give the Com
modore proper authority under Her Ma
jesty’s Commission. All hands should be
subject to his orders, as they are, in Her
Majesty’s ships, to the orders of the Admiral,
but he should be subject to the authority of
the Viceroy and Indian Government only,
the Indian Treasury paying all expenses.
H. B. Frere.
July 15th, 18G8.