'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎146v] (297/386)

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between Iram and India that has lasted for centuries, and that is based not
merely upon geographical proximity, but upon original affinities of civilisation,
language, and race. Bunder Abbas, both under its present name and under its
former"title of Gombrun, has also been intimately bound up with the history
of British mercantile enterprise in Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and I suppose
that there is hardly a scene in the world that has witnessed more struggles for
commercial supremacy, or has experienced more startling vicissitudes of political
fortune, than the waters and islands that we can see from this very spot.
Should any one enquire wdiy the Viceroy of India, wdiile in the discharge
of the duties of his office, should visit this place, the answer may be found in
the facts which I have already mentioned, namely, in the uninterrupted histori
cal connection w r hich has existed between this locality and India for hundreds
of years, and in the residence here of a flourishing colony of British Indian
traders and trade. But the explanation goes much further than that, both in
its local and in its general application ; for here we are at the mouth of a sea
w hich has been one of the main and most beneficent areas of British exertion
in the continent of Asia. The great maritime highway of the Pers'an Gulf
has never failed to attract those nations who held, or aspired to hold, the ports
of India ; and having embarked upon the Indian enterprise in which they
ultimately out-distanced all other competitors, it fell naturally to the British to
pursue their successful activity in this direction, and thus gradually to acquire
an ascendency of trade and interest in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. which has never
wavered until the present day, and which has been so far from selfish in its
operation that it has brought w T ealthand security to the States and communities
that are to be found upon these shores, has smoothed the path of every ship that
navigates these waters, and has w T on for us the friendship and gratitude of the
principal Governments, such as that of His Majesty the Shah, with whom v T e
have been brought in contact.
The ascendency of which I have spoken is demonstrated by the fact that
out of a total value of trade in the Gulf—including under that designation the
ports on the Arab as well as on the Persian coast, and embracing Mohammerah
in the latter, but not including Busrah—amounting to nearly fc'-J millions sterl
ing in the last recorded year, 1901, close upon 5 millions of which was external
trade, that is, trade with ports outside the Gulf, the British percentage of this
external trade was 77, and the corresponding percentage of British steamers
leaving and entering the Gulf ports was 97. If we restrict our observations to
the Persian ports alone, we find that the total volume of trade in 1901 w as close
upon 4J millions sterling, of which £4,‘132,000 was external, and that of the
latter the British proportion v T as 66 per cent., and of the shipping by which it
was carried 97 per cent. These figures show that, even in the much more acute
competition that now prevails, the commercial superiority so long enjoyed by
Great Britain in these seas still exists, if not unchallenged, at least unimpaired.
On the other hand, there are circumstances in the trade and position of Bunder
Abbas which shew that the keenest efforts will be required to retain for this
port the advantages which it has hitherto enjoyed.
You have called attention to other symptoms of Indian interest in Bunder
Abbas. My Government is represented here by an officer, appointed for the
first time since I came to India, to safeguard the interests of British Indian trade
in this place, and I am glad to learn from you that his arrival has been followed
by an extension in certain aspects of your business, and that you have already
derived benefit from his labours. It is to be remembered that Bunder Abbas,
though it has been shorn of much of its ancient fame, is the starting point from
which almost immemorial caravan routes penetrate far into the interior, carry
ing what are for the most part British and Indian goods to the great towns of
Central Persia on the north and west, and to the bazars of Khorasan, Afghanis
tan, and Central Asia on the north-easit and east. This is a very important
outpost, therefore, of Indian trade.
Again, let it be remembered that India is no remote country which is here
busying itself at a great distance from its base. On the contrary, we are the
nearest neiglibours of Persia along her entire eastern frontier, firstly in the
territories of Baluchistan, and next in those of the Afghan ruler, whose foreign
relations are in our hands. Countries and Powers which are thus placed in