File 522/1922 Pt 7 'Bahrain: Persian claim to sovereignty; Persian Treaty negotations 1929-1930' [‎176r] (356/1126)

• [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Government.]
PERSIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[E 1111/208/34
March 16, 1932.
Section 1.
No. 1 .
Foreign Office to 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. .
Sir, Foreign Office, March 16, 1932.
WITH reference to Mr. Hoare’s despatch No. 92 of the 17th February (a
copy of which was sent to you on the 4th March), regarding the general treaty
negotiations with Persia, I am directed by Secretary Sir John Simon to state
that in his opinion it is now necessary to consider the position of these negotiations
as a whole in view of the Persian Government’s latest suggestion that His
Majesty’s Government should agree to withdraw the British naval depot from
Henjam, and to obtain instead a prolongation of Imperial Airways’ permit to
operate the South Persian air route.
2. Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare will remember that in September 1930 a
comprehensive memorandum, showing the views of His Majesty’s Government
regarding the general treaty negotiations, was communicated to the Persian
Government. This document, a copy of which was enclosed in Sir R. Clive’s
despatch No. 467 of the 23rd September, 1930, explained that there was only one
tangible advantage which His Majesty’s Government would themselves derive
from the proposed treaty, and that this advantage was the continuance by agree
ment with the Persian Government, for a further period, of the refuelling and
recreational facilities enjoyed by British warships at Henjam. The fact, there
fore, that the Persian Government are no longer willing to grant a lease of the
naval depot at Henjam has changed profoundly the whole aspect of the general
treaty negotiations.
3. The main advantages, tangible or otherwise, to be gained by His
Majesty’s Government under the proposed treaty, as hitherto contemplated, may
be summarised as follows :—
(a) Henjam. Continuance for at least twenty, and possibly fifty, years of
the recreational and refuelling facilities now enjoyed by His
Majesty’s ships.
(b) Bahrein. Abandonment of Persian claim.
(c) Tamb and Abu Musa. Abandonment of Persian claims.
(d) A non-aggression article to include the Arab sheikhdoms under British
protection on the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
(e) A claims article.
(/) Possible also the repayment by Persia of the capital of the £490,000
pre-war debt. Persia is, however, at present paying interest on this
sum, and is understood to be likely to repay the capital shortly, apart
from the general treaty.
4. On the other hand, the main advantages to be gained by the Persian
Government are the following :—
(1) The remission of all the war and post-war debt, i.e., £1,510,000 of the
“agreed debt.’’ Hitherto the Persian Government have only been
informed of the readiness of His Majesty’s Government to waive
£1 million of this sum in return for a satisfactory settlement.
(2) Rendition of Basidu. . . . .
(3) British recognition of Persian sovereignty over Sirri, unjustifiably seized
by Persia in 1887.
(4) Duzdab Railway ‘ Transfer to Persia of Persian section, and under
taking by the Government of India to operate the Indian section for
five years (at an estimated cost to the Government of India of
60,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. a year). . i
(5) Abrogation of Slavery Convention of 1882, which gives to British
warships the right to search Persian vessels for slaves.
[416 q—1]