ملف ١٩٢٣/٤٠١١ الجزء ٢ "الخليج الفارسي: مفاوضات ١٩٢٨ هنجام" [ظ‎‎٩‎٣‎٠] (١٩٣٤/١٨٦٧)

64
Re-establishment of telegraph station at Henjam.
7 : Our attention in 1901 and 1902 was oecumed in fu r
quesaon of a naval base in the Persian Gulf and tbo + dlSCU 1 ssl0n of the
telegraph line to Bandar Abbas and Bassidore in tld^ t( ? 1Cal value of a
view. A convenient way of settling flip nnpafi co ^ iec ti°n was kept in
occurred to the Government of India, that ns by re^esfablishmeA 0 f^ nd ; U i Abbas
station al Henjam by which we could easily connect A f v? Ur telegra P h
1 ersian Gulf telegraphs. The proposal was exrlainedin tU witil tlle
(Ho. 56, Secret-External, dated 7th May 1903) P t o tJmSecretarfoTsta'te" •5 atdl
ending^ vdt^the ^^c^oy^s^elegram^d^eAt^^Oth^Mar^^lOm t0 ^ —ce
for the connection of Bandar Abbas with thVi 5 l ^ regardi ^ a proposal
reasons which at that time led His Majesty’s Govern UI ? P , ean tele | ra P h system. The
unfavourable for the execution of the nS Lw t . t0 , C0I1Slder the opportunity
desire to put forward the scheme modified in e i paSSed away > and we now again
investigation of the entire quesS M^hi^S in
cables whkh “ P s fh “he S ofo ""Ti / 0 1881 ’ 0ne ° f tbe telegraph
channel to the nor^h of ^ ^ ^
the Indo-European Teleo-raph Deuartment Th.ui 1 1881 ’ tere Was a statl0]1 of
— 3 “
euplosed wth this despatch. It will be seen that four varying estimates of cost are given-
(1) Taking (a) the larger estimate for the diver
sion to Henjam, and (b) connection between
Henjam and Bandar Abbas by cable all
the way ..
( 2 ) Taking (a) the smaller estimate for the diver
sion to Henjam, and (&) connection between
Henjam, and Bandar Abbas, as in ( 1 ), i.e.,
by cable only . . , _ ’ ’
(3) Taking (a) the larger estimate for the diver-
sioii to Henjam, and (&) connection between
Henjam and Bandar Abbas partly by sea
and partly by land across Kishm
(4) Taking (a) the smaller estimate for the diver
sion to Henjam, and (b) connection between
Henjam a,nd Bandar Abbas as in ( 3 ), i.e.,
partly by sea and partly by land
As regards the alternative means of connecting Henjam and Bandar Abbas, we incline
C le 0 \ fjr a uu me via Kishm. We do not anticipate any risk of interruption on the
sparsely inhabited island of Kishm : and we think that any steps will be of value that
^'in enC | Stren§ ' then ° ub ]1;iPuence island, where we already possess the station
j‘ r a ssic ore, vhich might also, if necessary, be similary connected with the station at
’ however, His Majesty’s Government entertain a strong preference for a
C& J e ’/' v ? a ^ e no wish 1 ° press the point, and consider that the small increase in cost is
immaterial :
Rs. 2,78,096, or £18,539
Rs. 2,29,796, or £15,319
Rs. 2,25,830, or £15,055
Rs. 1,77,530, or £11,835
o. It will he seen that in its initial cost the most expensive of the two projects which
wu favour is only half that of the formerly suggested line from Bandar Abbas to -Task,
^ ac Vv as emulated to cost £30,500. The expense of maintenance will be slightly
greater, inasmuch as, in addition to an office at Bandar Abbas, it will be necessary to
maintain one at Henjam also. The existence of a station at this place will, however,
apait rom any considerations of political advantage arising out of a reoccupation of the
^ anc ’ kp ^ kself a distinct gain as affording a point in the fair way up the Gulf
intermediate between Maskat and Bushire, at which communication can be made with His
ji d ' 1 s s hiP s of war. With the object of providing improved facilities in this respect,
t ommander-m-Chief on the East Indies Station proposed early in 1902 the location
a teitgiciph station in the mo/fth of the Gulf—the place then suggested by him being
Bassiaore and the advantage which would arise from the possession of such means of
communication in the event of trouble at any point in the Persian Gulf is manifest.
.. A ' ’ p,r f° occupation of the island for telegraphic purposes in 1869, considerable
, isenssion took place as to the ownership of Henjam. Rival claims were urged on behalf
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