Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [326r] (656/1186)
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.
#* x **
(TiT)
Enclosure Ho.l to the Senior Haval Officer's Persian
Gulf Division, letter ®o.33/4S3 to the Honourable'the
Political Resident
A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, dated loth August
1933*
(Copy to the Comander-in-Chief # last Indies
Station,(^0.141/423h
IXTRAC? FROM "BUmFOKD»3» JW’OHT 01 ^OCHiEMHCS
yoT.50/165 OTrAfMTBT 19 33 .
11. H # M.Ship under my command left las-al-Bidya on
Saturday, 29th July, and arrived at Basidu a.ra. Monday,
31st July.
12. As reported to you, the caretaker was away In
the interior of the Island. He had been away for 14
days and no one seemed to know #ien he was likely to
return. A
Coolie
A term used to describe labourers from a number of Asian countries, now considered derogatory.
hoists the Union Jack while he is away.
he usual reports were received of the ^ersi an Customs
Officials coming into British Basidu at ni^it and using
the Officer’s House as their base. Customs Officials
have also been coming in lately and counting the date
trees with a view to levying taxes on them later on.
13. Arrived at Henjam p.m. Monday, 31st July.
A separate report on the situation at Henjam is attached.
14. S.S. "KHMSISTAH" arrived at Henjam from Bunder
Abbas at 0640 on Tuesday, 1st August,1933.
15. The telegram announcing her arrival did not
arrive at Henjam till 0900 on Tuesday, 1st August, 1933,
due to a delay in the -ersian Tost Office.
16* The Quarantine Medical Officer who was at
Chail (a village a few miles from U en jfin) refused to
come into Henjam although the A.^.O.C. agent informed
him repeatedly that the H KHUZISTAM W was waiting for
pratique. 17
17. Threntually he went on board at 2100 and the
ship was given pratique. S. S. W KHTTZI ST AN rt had 3,000
tons of petrol on board for the A. '’.O.C., and sailed
at midnight 2nd August, having been delayed 24 hours.
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
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Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [326r] (656/1186), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060481231.0x000039> [accessed 21 July 2026]
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- 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
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