Coll 30/114 'Proceedings of H.M. Ships.' [‎539r] (1077/1203)

EVACUATION OP HEN JAM
19. Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Muscat’s telegram announcing
receipt of the Khor Kuwai concession in writing (28 Mch.) was
the signal to the Minister at Tehran to set the machinery
in motion, and an interview with the Persian Minister for
Foreign Affairs was arranged for a.m. Tuesday 2nd April.
Confirmation that the interview had taken place did not
reach me till 1800 on 2nd April, but a start was made in
the morning to recover the oil barge moorings under the
pretext of examination....
20. Evacuation parties landed at dawn on 3rd
April, to the astonishment of the Persians. There was no
opposition and work progressed swiftly. Two oil barges
were in turn put alongside the pier, which was very shaky
and only just withstood the strain. General supervision
of loading was ably carried out by Captain D.B. Fisher and
officers of BIDEFORD. FOWEY was occupied with the
moorings of No.2 barge, which proved refractory, and
SHOREHAM provided the largest shore working parties.
♦ * *
22. The actual evacuation with the exception of
the flag and flagstaff was completed during the forenoon of
the 5th April.
23. At about 1600, accompanied by Lieutenant
Bowman-Manifold and my Interpreter, I went ashore for a
last inspection of the depot. It was wild and gusty, the
air full of sand raised by the shemal and the scene
inspired few regrets at our departure. Children were
already playing in the deserted rooms of the R.I.N. lines,
doubtless a prelude to the instalment of whole families.
A heap of 20,000 beer bottles bought from the Canteen by
a Contractor, stood as memorial to our occupation.
24. The Deputy Governor invited us to his house
and I accepted. After the usual flatteries and a glass
of sickly sherbet, which he personally served (a remarkable
but belated Persian compliment), he took me across to the
Quarantine Medical Officer to whom I wished to say good-bye.
We were joined by the Mudir and Postmaster and sat for an
hour while refreshments were prepared. It appeared that
the three latter were genuinely distressed at our going.
Finally, after submitting to a sedative of thick cocoa we
were able to take our leave, and as I arrived on board the
sun set and the flag was finally hauled down, immediately
followed by the mast both of which were embarked.
EVACUATION OF BASIDU .
25. On the morning of 6th April I proceeded to
Basidu to complete the preliminary arrangements made by
LUPIN
On 8th April I heard that Persian officials were
intimidating the inhabitants of British Basidu and on
going ashore, I found the local Persian headman and the
Farash of Customs in our territory. The former admitted
to forbidding any departure from British Basidu, but the
latter said he received his instructions from the Mudir of
Persian Basidu. Both were promptly turned out.