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Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [‎112r] (228/1186)

The record is made up of 1 file (589 folios). It was created in 3 Aug 1933-31 Jan 1934. 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. .

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[This Document is th e Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government, and a ho«Id be
returned to the Foreign Office~IF not required for official use.l
JT
r
Decypher*
D 6
| (**-
t
let (T ehr an) 0
25th September 1933
B o 00 Pem 0 25th September 1933 #
9 o 30 a 0 m o 26th September 1933 .
No* 238,
" 0 11 " “ " h B M K H » ” « « « « » R H f? « fl If If If „ |, ff „ ff
My telegram No* 234*
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me this
morning that he read my Note to the Shah last night.
( 2 ) ms Majesty had listened attentively and had taken
it very well and considered the whole matter closed. Council
of Ministers would draft form of reply today. I understand
it will oe brief and not argumentative. Separate answers
te Sent ' t0 varlous Notes about dhows etc, Sepahbodi
said he would have to explain to them Persian Government's
view from standpoint of international law. He was honest
a not to premise entire satisfaction regarding them and
. sup^o.oc t,ilb means a re-statement of Persian Government's
about territorial waters etc. As regards the future he
was equally frank. He said that it was impossible to swear
that there would never again bo incidents but if there were
they would be due to misunderstandings and ignorance and could
tos liquidated with patience,
(3) He then repeated to me twice over words usedby the
Shah yesterday to the effect that once more His Majesty
assured me that instructions had been sent to Persian Navy to
work intimately in harmony with British Navy. T he shah had
adaod that i must realise those orders did not constitute an
act of weakness but on the contrary one of friendship and a
desire.
/
3
6<

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Content

This file contains correspondence between British diplomatic and naval officials concerning an incident on 31 July 1933 when four Persian naval officers landed at Basidu (a naval station on Qishm island used by Britain) and took down the British flag in the presence of witnesses including an Italian and a Frenchman. Subsequently, a Royal Navy vessel arrived at the station and the British flag was re-hoisted.

The correspondence discusses the details of the incident itself, its aftermath and its impact on Britain's relations with the Government of Iran. It also covers what steps were taken to 'restore British prestige in the eyes of the Gulf Arabs', including details regarding the dispatch of a royal navy flotilla to the region.

In addition to correspondence, the file also contains the following:

  • Relevant press cuttings regarding the incident and Britain's response (folios 78, 169, 311 and 364)
  • Copy of a circular clarifying the sequence of events in Basidu that was issued by the British authorities in the Gulf (folio 11)
  • 'Copy of a note dated the 14th August 1933, from the Head Clerk, H.B.M.'s Consulate, Bandar Abbas, regarding a conversation which recently took place between the Governor of Bandar Abbas and the Consulate Mirza' (folio 255)
  • 'Basidu Incident' a summary of events written by J V Creagh, Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (folios 329-331)
  • 'Extract from Cabinet Conclusions dated 5th September 1933 - Relations with Persia, Basidu Incident' (folios 370-376)
  • 'Legal Status of Basidu' (folios 398-399)
  • 'Cabinet: Relations with Persia - Basidu Incident. Memorandum by the First Lord of the Admiralty' (folios 413-415)
  • Cabinet Memorandum regarding Basidu Incident (folios 416-417)
  • 'Foreign Office Memorandum for submission to the Cabinet on the subject of the Flag Incident at Basidu' (folios 435-440)
  • A small sketch map marking the boundaries of 'British Basidu' (folio 536).

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 file (589 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 591; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [‎112r] (228/1186), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060481229.0x00001d> [accessed 2 August 2026]

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