Page 23 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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to the Persian Gulf in 1801, it was taken by what
was then thought the shortest and best line from
Gwadur to Capo Musandim. Entering Malcolm’s
Inlet, tho wires were stretched across the
Isthmus of Maklab, and rc-cntcrcd tho sea in
ElphinRtono’s Inlet on the other side. But the
drawbacks of the site, arising from tho hot
climate, the sterile neighbourhood, and the
suspicions of the native tribes, compelled a re­
treat from the course adopted; and, in 1869, the
cable was diverted to Cape Jask and Henjam.”
In a despatch dated the 2nd May, 1901, the
Government of India wrote:—
“The harbour of Elphinslone Inlet on the •
western side of tho Musandim Promontory
possesses many advantages, but we consider it
less suitable (than Bassidu and JJenjnm) for our
ultimate naval station at the mouth of the Gulf,
because of its total lack of supplies and the un­
civilized character of the aboriginal inhabitants.
We should, however, see no objection to the
hoisting of the British flag on the Isthmus of
Maklab, not necessarily with the view of ulterior
occupation, but in order to anticipate seizure by
any other Power.”
The question of the measures to be taken to
prevent the occupation of the anchorages of this
promontory by some other European Power was
again raised by tho India Office at an inter-Depart-
racntal discussion on various questions connected
with the Persian Gulf on the 14th July, 1902.
The Government of India, to whom the Bcport
of the Committee was communicated, recom­
mended in a despatch dated the 23rd October,
1902, that the British llesident in the Persian
Gulf should bo authorized to cllcct a reoccupa-
tiou of the deserted telegraph buildings at
Klphiustone Inlet by hoisting the British flag
and posting a native Agent there. The Admiralty,
who were consulted by tho Foreign Office, stated
on tho 31st January, 1903, that the Lords Com­
missioners saw no objection to the proposal.
On the 21st January, 1901, the Government of
India embodied in a further despatch the con­
clusions arrived at by the Viceroy und the Naval
Commander-in-chief on the East India Station,
after Lord Curzon’s tour in the Persian Gulf,
as to the selection of naval positions.
Amongst other recommendations it was pro-
[1098] F