![Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [‎225r] (454/1186)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000156/IOR_L_PS_12_3775_0454.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [‎225r] (454/1186)")
Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [225r] (454/1186)
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
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Irriv at e c r e t a ry^-
Please see previous submission dated 16th
September, flagged I below, on the object of Basldu.
Since teat submission was made an Incident about the grant
oi pratique to the mediterranean Flotilla at Henjam has
been satisfactory settled and a corrmunication, apparently
emanating from the Foreign Office, has been made to the
Press such as to leave the impression that the incident may
now be regarded as closed. _lhe effect of this corrununication,
which had the authority neither of the Adndmlty nor 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.
, has been further to complicate the situation.
The Persians are upset at the critical comment on their
action in the Press, while the Charge' d'Affaires suggests
that the publicity given will make it extremely difficult
for him to press for further concessions by Persia, and
emphasises that it is only because of the complete silence
mtnerto maintained on the subject that he has been able to
make as much progress as he has with the Minister for
Foreign Affairs.
^* i ' ne Resident and the Senior Naval Officer would
still prefer to see a stronger line taken with Persia, or,
if we agree to accept their Note, a warning given that any
further incident will lead to the shepherding of the Persian
Navy. To this, of course, the Secretary of state is not
3- The situation was discussed yesterday witn the
Poreign Office, Admiralty, Mr. Metcalfe, and, separately,
Colonel Fowle. As a result the draft instructions now
attached were prepared as a basis for consideration by
Ministers. The Inula Office representatives throughout
the/
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [225r] (454/1186), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060481230.0x000037> [accessed 22 July 2026]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100060481230.0x000037
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100060481230.0x000037">Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [‎225r] (454/1186)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100060481230.0x000037"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000156/IOR_L_PS_12_3775_0454.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x000156/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3775
- Title
- Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:77v, 79r:168v, 170r:310v, 312r:363v, 365r:590v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence