ملف ١٩٢٣/٤٠١١ الجزء ٢ "الخليج الفارسي: مفاوضات ١٩٢٨ هنجام" [ظ‎‎٧‎٢‎٤] (١٩٣٤/١٤٥٣)

4
Teh. Desp. 324,
July 6 1926, P. 2604.
* P. 1305/11.
Teh. Desp. to F.O.,
Dec. 12 1914.
P. 5068/14.
P. 1024/18.
t Tel. from Pol. Res
to Gt. of I., Aug. 8
1927, P. 4208.
m g made to
17. The question of negotiating with Persia an exchange of Basiduf •
PTenjam was again examined in 1911,*' but was not pursued, while Id ITU
and again in 1918 the purchase or lease from Persia of Henjam and epnoi!
other islands in the Gulf was considered, a formal offer
Persia in respect of them in 1914, but without result.
1926-8: Rsassertion of Persian Claims.
18. Up to 1926 naval stores “ in transit ” to His Majesty’s ships and for
use in the concession had been landed at Henjam without payment of
customs dues and without reference to the Persian customs. A claim for
payment of duty was for the first time made by Persia in May 1926; and in
October of the same year Plis Majesty’s Minister decided that customs
monopoly, and road tax must be admitted. The duties in question have
apparently been levied since that date. No taxes are, however, levied on
Government stores landed at Henjam for transhipment to naval vessels the
Persian Government having agreed in 1927 to the establishment of a bonded
warehouse for such stores.|
19. In July 1926 enquiry by the Persian Government as to the rights of
property of His Majesty’s Government in Basidu and Henjam led to a
re-examination of the position of His Majesty’s Government in those stations.
1926 ’p 3629 0ct ' 15 The Admiralty urged the desirability of retaining the Henjam concession
and regularising the position in respect of it. Not only was the retention of
the coal depot essential, since three out of the four vessels employed in the
Gulf were still coal-burning, but the station offered the only recreational
Lr.fromo.of L, j an. facilities in the Gulf for men of the squadron. The Government of India,
6 1927 , p. 376/2^, ex p ress ] n g agreement with the views of the Admiralty, referred to the
strategical importance of a coaling station at the mouth of the Gulf. An
endeavour to conclude an arrangement with Persia on the basis of surrender
of the British position in Basidu in return for consolidation of that in Henjam
was in contemplation, but the Minister at Teheran having reported that in
the present state of Persian opinion “ it would he impossible to obtain
perpetual lease of Henjam in return for Pasidujf ” ; and it having proved
possible to avoid further discussion of the general question with Persia, the
matter dropped for the time being.
20. During 1927 there arose difficulty with Persia (to which suspicions
of the responsibility of His Majesty’s Government for the activities of the
Sheikh of Henjam—see para. 28 below—contributed) as the result of the
erection within the limits of the concession of a house for the Persian
postmaster without prior reference to His Majesty’s Government, and again
in connection with the expulsion of a Persian nakhuda who had without
permission built a hut within the concession. An amicable settlement of
both incidents were secured, and both the Minister and the Political Resident
made it clear to the Belgian customs officials that His Majesty’s Government
had no claim to or designs on the island, and wanted no more than the
control of the concession for sanitary reasons. The customs officials reacted
favourably to a suggestion that Basidu might be surrendered in return for
consolidation of the position at Henjam, hut the matter was not pmsue .
A site for a new Customs House within the limits of the British concession
was agreed with the British authorities.
21. On the occasion of the expulsion of the Sheikh of Henjam hi Ma}
1928, not only was the Sheikh refused permission to take refuge ni n
British concession, but Persian troops were allowed to occupy the concession,
irantee being given by their commander that British liv r es and niteiess
would be respected. Persian sovereignty even within the limits o
concession was thus recognised in a practical manner.
22. In September 1928 the Admiralty reported that a number of Persian
troops had arrived in Henjam, 15 of whom had crossed into the 1
concession, and the Charge d’Affaires at Teheran was instructed ^
semi-official action for their removal should be taken on the grouii ^
inconvenience caused by them, and of the fact that while Persia s rq, ^
send troops into the concession incase of need was not disputed, n
necessity existed in the present instance.
J Tel. to F.O., 259,
Deo. 28 1926,
P.67/27.