Page 79 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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“ We already possess a plot of British territory
at Bassidu on Kishm Island. . . . Your lordship
is aware of the conditions under which we hold
possession of Bassidu. Though we no longer
use the place as a coaling depAt, we keep an
agent there, who flies the British flag. . . . There
are no independent local Chiefs with whom we
could enter into relations. With the exception
of the tract in our possession at Hassidu the
islands aro under Persian authority.”
Again, the Government of India wrote, in
their despatch No. 92 of the 29th May, 1902 :—
“The circumstances connected with the British
occupation of Bassidu are already known to your
Lordship. The settlement dates from 1820; but
our occupation has for many years been indicated
only by the presence of a native coal agent, who,
however, has habitually flown the British flag.”
The place was for many years (from 1823 till
1879) the head-quarters of the Indian Marine;
and it is one of the healthiest places near the
entrance to the Gulf.
On the 6th May, 1903, the India Office stated
that the Russian Consul at Bushire had made
inquiries as to the nature of the British position
at Bassidu, and had been informed of the situation
by the French Agent at Lingnh.
In the Admiralty letter of the 21st. March,
1902, a report is inclosed from Rear-Admiral
Bosanquet, in which he says:—
“ Kishm is, in my opinion, the most important
strategical position in the Persian Gulf, from a
naval point of view, and its possession would be
very important to us as a port for our mercantile
marine and a coaling station for our ships of
war.”
On the 19th November, 1902, a Conference,
consisting of delegates of the Foreign Office,
India Office, War Office, and Admiralty, was
held at the Foreign Office, and amongst other
recommendations as to the methods in which the
extension of British influence could be most
successfully prosecuted, and to the best advantage
for general purposes, it was advised that “ we
should reassert our claims at Bassidu.”
It does not appear that any very definite
action has been taken in pursuance of this
recommendation, though it is recorded in the
Minutes of the Committee of Imperial Defence.