File 4011/1923 Pt 2 'PERSIAN GULF: NEGOTIATIONS 1928 HENJAM' [‎902r] (1810/1934)

, 1 t E l Ce l l Tn m Councl1 wll J’ moreover, bear in mind that it is the arrangements
made by the British Government at heavy cost which alone render trade in the Persian
Gulf possible : Persia has not a war stick afloat. Were it not for us, the Arabs would
plunder her coast and not allow a Persian boat to put to sea. It seems strange that a
kingdom so circumstanced along her sole and only ocean sea-board should venture to
exclude strangers, or lay claim to sovereignty over islands. The islands it is true may
in point of distance be nearer to the Persian than to the Maskat coast -’but channel is
lands are usually found to belong to a naval and not purely military power.
3L The Government of India’s instructions and observations on this are
contained m their letter No. 634, dated 19th dime 1868, to the Government of
Bombay :—
In reply to your letter No. 132, dated 9th June, and with reference to previous
correspondence, I am directed to communicate to you the views of His Excellency the
Viceroy and Governor General in Council regarding the lease of Bandar Abbas.
2. Ha\ ing regaid to the terms of the 4th and 12th Articles of the Agreement conclud
ed in 1855 between the Persian and Maskat Governments as contained in the copy of
the original Persian Agreement forwarded with your letter No. 124, dated 31st
December 1864, His Excellency in Council is inclined to the opinion that the lease of
Bandar Abbas, etc., for ^.0 i eais was fiot limitficl to So/iyid Said and his sons, as stat&d in
Colonel Felly’s translation, hut included any Rider directly descended from, the loins
of the then Imam who might he on the throne of Maskat within the period of 20 years for
which the lease was given.
3. At the same time, with reference to the attitude now assumed towards each other
by His Majesty the Shah and the Sultan of Maskat, His Excellency in Council is of opinion
that the present dispute should be adjusted with reference rather to what is equitable
and right, than to the mere terms arranged in 1855. His Excellency in Council considers
it highly desirable, both in the interests of the trade of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and on other j
grounds, that the lease to Maskat should be renewed, and that the Resident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. should mediate between the contending parties on the terms that the Sultan
of Maskat should hold Bandar Abbas on a reasonable payment.
4. Tinder no circumstances can His Excellency in Council countenance a resort to
hostilities by either party, and should the Sultan of Maskat commit aggressions on any
of the Persian ports, the Resident should insist on the cessation of hostilities, pending a
settlement of the dispute by mediation, for w T hich the British Government have already
tendered their good ofiices. Meanwhile His Excellency in Council will await with interest
the report of Colonel Pelly’s interview with the representatives of the Persian and Maskat
Governments.
5. With reference to the views expressed by Colonel Pelly in paragraphs 11 to 13
of his letter of 9th May, His Excellency in Council cannot consider the stipulations in
our Treaty with Maskat of 1798 for the exclusion of the French and Dutch from
Gombroon and the establishment of an English factory An East India Company trading post. there as affecting in any way
the rights of Persia : nor can His Excellency in Council approve of intervene on con
ditions which do not recognize the Sovereign rights of Persia over the territories
embraced in the engagement of 1855. It is, therefore, immaterial whether in the new
lease the clause excluding strangers be maintained, as that clause would in no way effect
British subjects who have Treaty rights throughout the whole of the Persian dominions.
32. In the meanwhile the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. had instructed Colonel
Pelly not to object to the blockade of Bandar Abbas by the Sultan or Maskat,
but to inform His Highness that, after the offer of mediation by the British
Government, such action could not but be regarded as unfriendly. The Govern
ment of India when apprized of this telegraphed to the Bombay Government to
issue more emphatic instructions to that officer to leave nothing undone to prevent
the threatened blockade, and to give the Sultan to understand that the Bnusu
Government would withdraw all countenance whatsoever from him it lie letuseci
the.proffered mediation.
33. On the 2nd August 1868. Colonel Pelly telegraphed to say that Maskat had
placed the negotiations entirely in his hands, and that an explicit telegram had at
length been received from the Shah, giving a general consent to an arnica r e
arrangement of the matter. He himself was moving up with the Maskat Agent
to meet the Persian Prince Governor A Prince of the Royal line who also acted as Governor of a large Iranian province during the Qājār period (1794-1925). of Furs at ohmaz, and matters, he th i g _ ,
would probably be satisfactorily arranged if the Persians were reasonable m
their demands.
34. Prom Colonel Pelly’s letter of a previous date, vie., 23rd May, No 63
it appeared that the Sultan was willing to come to reasonao ^ ^
denied that the terms of the lease of 1856 had lost their • ,, A ^ .
indisposed to appeal to force in support of Ins claim, dec an g