ملف رقم ٣٢٠٨ لسنة ١٩٠٨، جزء ١، "الخليج الفارسي: قراصنة ديّر (الساحل الفارسي)" [و‎‎١‎٠‎٤] (٣٣٠/١٤٧)

1 ,«.„
3
Telegram, dated the 3rd (received 4th) December 1907.
From—The Commander of His Majesty’s sh p Highflyer, Henjam,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
Leave to-morrow for place ordered.
Telegram, dated the 9th (received 10 th) December 1907.
From—The Commander of His Majesty’s ship Highflyer, ftU aMaA.A’ *
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
Arrived. Have pirates.
Telegram, dated the 9th (received 10th) December 1907.
From— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf,
To —The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
Returned Head-quarters.
Addressed Minister.
Telegram No. 725, dated and received the 10th December 1907.
From— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the-Foreign Department,
Calcutta.
Two of the three pirate brothers have been arrested and their dhows seized.
The third escaped inland. The dhows have been transferred to my custody
pending disposal, and the prisoners are on the Highflyer,
The prisoners, who are primarily Arab subjects of the Sheikh of Mokam-
merah, admitted their identity and notoriety as pirates, but alleged that their
bad reputation was due to piracies committed by them, at Sheikh Mubarak’s
bidding, upon the dhows of his enemy, Yusuf Ibrahim and his adherents, seven
or eight years ago. They naturally do not admit the piracies at Shivoh or
Koweit, which are attributed to them. In the former case we have the
original evidence of an individual who escaped, which is corroborated by the
testimony of his uncle, a nahhoda from Hayir.
In my opinion it would be altogether unsafe to hand the prisoners over
to the Governor of the Gulf Ports (in whose immediate jurisdiction they were
seized) except for the purpose of immediate execution in our presence.
Captain Hickley concurs with me in thinking these brothers are clearly
so notorious all over the Gulf as dangerous depredators that we are fully
justified in insisting on their immediate and public execution at Bushire with
out further discussion or delay. The dhows should be simultaneously burnt
in. the harbour here while His Majesty’s ships are at Bushire.
The news of the capture and of such public and prompt retribution will
travel quickly, and will greatly promote maritime peace and our prestige in
the Gulf.
I request early instructions.
Addressed to Mr. Marling, Tehran ; repeated to Commodore, Eoreign,
Calcutta. .
Telegram No. 271, dated the 11th (received 12 th) December 1907.
From— C. M. Marling, Esq., in charge of His Britannic Majesty’s Legation at
Tehran,
To The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, Calcutta.
Please refer to your telegram No. 178. It is reported by the Consul-
General at Bushire that two pirates have been captured and are now on the
Highflyer But he strongly urges that it would be altogether unsafe to hand
the prisoners over to the Governor of the Gulf Ports, except for instant execu
tion. He asks for early instructions.