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Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu' [480v] (965/1186)
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.
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- 2 -
4. Tlie
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.
suggested and the
conference generally agreed that the ceremonial
reparation might take the form of the parading of a
Persian guard at Basidu to salute the British guard
there and also the Flag. In view of the importance
of getting some visible amends from the Persians it
was undesirable to go much beyond this or press them
with obviously unacceptable demands.
Higher authority in the Foreign Office was not
prepared to go so far as the interdepartmental
meeting. Sir R. Vansittart wished to substitute
disciplinary action* 1 for '•dismissal or other adequate
punishment* and would only agree to telegraphing on
the lines approved by the Committee subject to his
being allowed to send a private telegram, asking the
Charge d*Affaires to report before he acted on his
official Instructions whether he thought we should be
reasonably likely to succeed in obtaining the demands
embodied in them.
The Foreign Office ultimately agreed to ask
for "dismissal or other disciplinary action". 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.
and Admiralty also agreed to the
proposed personal telegram. 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.
took
the opportunity to place their views in the matter on
record (see letter of 19th August, No. P.Z.5031/33);
to emphasise the serious nature of the incident and
also their view that the Charge d-Affaires was possibly
Wing undue attention to the Tehran aspect of the
stion ana insufficient to its reactions in the Gulf
8y hlDteCi fiDal;Ly ^ ^iiure to secure adequate
reparation from Persia m-ir.v,+ i
ght well make it necessary
to reconsider the desirability
sxraDinty of pursuing the
negotiations to the llgnt .hlcn this .onto cast on
ol the Persian Go.eimient.
7/
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' [480v] (965/1186), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3775, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100060481232.0x0000a6> [accessed 26 July 2026]
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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