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Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [‎123r] (250/1186)

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. .

Transcription

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* iG *
already inalcutea, the Xartnest to midi tie wouia be
prepared to go ftouid be an lo spired article in terms
i-o be agreed between our t»o Departments wiich would
mke no reference to "possession*, but would briefly
I'ifer to the existence of our concession ana the fact
tijat it ms granted to us by the Imam of , uscnt in
18£a m& Ms beeD occupied without Interruption ever
since. He would, indeed, much prefer to abandon the
iuea of any publicity on this point unless the Foreign
v-tlrce thins it of real Importance to go bo far as the
inspired article.
fee are not sure, from the telegrams that have
y...»sea, whether Pallet Quite appreciates that we are
likely to take a slightly different view from his on
ihe point dealt with in the preceding paragraph, (I
imagine that the attitude of the Admiralty would be
similar to that of the . 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. , but l am sending
a copy of this letter to deal, who will no aoubt let
you know on that point), and in the interests of
a vo iuing/

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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' [‎123r] (250/1186), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060481229.0x000033> [accessed 26 July 2026]

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