'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA. PART I - The Persian Gulf.' [‎9v] (23/92)

47
Home authorities upon the importance of keeping the Musandim promontory
with its excellent anchorages out of the hands of a rival European Power,
Lord Curzon’s attention was directed to the political status of that district and
to the measures of precaution which it might be advisable to take there.
The political situation in this region was governed by the declaration of 1862 by
which the British and French Governments had mutually bound themselves
to respect the independence of the Sultan of Oman; for, if the territory in ques
tion were to be regarded as a part of that Sultanate, action there by Britain or
France—but not necessarily by other nations—would be precluded. In the
result the Government of India, without committing themselves to any par
ticular view as to the ownership of Musandim, reoommended that possession
should be resumed of an island in Elphinstone Inlet which had been occupied
more than thirty years previously by the Indo-European Telegraph Department,
a Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. being stationed there and the British flag hoisted at a suitable
opportunity in the same manner as at Bassidore. Lord Curzon’s Government
also advocated the recognition, as belonging to the Shaikhdom of Shargah, of a
strip of coast between Khor Kalbah and Dibba on the eastern side of the pro
montory near its base. While this strip remained attached to Shargah liberty
of action would be preserved to the British Government in respect of it, foreign
interference being at the same time excluded in virtue of au agreement between
the Trucial Chiefs and Great Britain; whereas, if in consequence of disturbances
then in progress it were to pass to the Sultan of Oman, it would become sub
ject to the provisions of the Declaration of 1862.
Both proposals of the Government of India received the sanction of His
Majesty’s Government; but, at the end of 1903, before that relating to Elphia-
stone Inlet had been carried into effect, Lord Curzon made a personal inspection
of the Musandim districts and immediately on his return to India placed
further suggestions before the British Government. He first drew attention
to the excellence of an anchorage, enclosed by the islands of Kishm, Lirak
and Hormuz and extending up to Clarence Straits, as a place of rendezvous
for a fleet that desired to command the entry to the Gulf and to prevent the
acquisition of Bunder Abbas and the neighbouring islands by a foreign Power,
but he did not regard it as a site where a coaling station was likely to be es
tablished nor as one which would call for defence. Lord Curzon then proceeded
to discuss the best means of preventing the occupation by foreign powers of
the fine harbours of Elphinstone Inlet and Malcolm Inlet and of the anchorage
of Khor Kawi situated between Sheep Island and the main ; he advised that
action should he taken by erecting flagstaffs on Telegraph Island, on the
Maklab isthmus and also upon Sheep Island. His proposals were approved
by His Majesty’s Government and in November 1901 the flagstaffs were duly
erected. Unfortunately a difficulty subsequently arose as to the pattern of
flag to be flown and, while this question was still undecided, fresh facts came
to light which showed that the Musandim districts could not be regarded other
wise than as a part of the Sultanate of Oman and therefore as subject to the
Declaration of 1862. It was accordingly decided .to do away with the flag-
staffs, and those on Maklab and Sheep Island were removed in November 1905;
that on Telegraph Island was left in situ pending further consideration of the
question. At the same time proposals which had been made by the Government
of India to construct a light-house either on Musandim or on one of the Quoins
Islands, partly in the interests of navigation and partly to strengthen the
position of Great Britain in Musandim, were suffered to fall into abeyance.
In the course of these strategical discussions the British station at
Baa idoro Bassidore on Kishm island necessarily
attracted notice. It was found that the
British flag had not hitherto been hoisted there except on Sundays and upon
special occasions, and the Government of India accordingly directed that it
should in future be flown every day from sunrise to sundown. The limits of
the station were also investigated and found to be indefinite, and Lord Curzon
suggested to His Majesty’s Government that it was possible, and might be
advisable, to claim for it the same boundaries as had belonged to the earlier
Portuguese settlement. Steps were taken to discourage immigration into
Bassidore and the growth of a free port, which might have resulted in serious