Page 80 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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An Intor-Dopartmental Committee of delegates
frQin tho Foreign Office, India Office, and
Admiralty, in submitting a report (dated October
1907) on tho terminus of the Bagdad Railway,
recommended incidentally that such steps as llis
Majesty's Government might considor fensible
should be taken to consolidate our position at the
entrnnoo to the Persian Gulf, including Kishm.
It has been suggested that the ruined Establishment of a Meteoro-
buildings at Bussidu should bo pulled down, and logical Station, a Stores
a small meteorological station uudor a British- Depot, and Wireless Tele­
Indian subject established. A dcp6t for stores graphy.
for the ships-of-war in the Gulf might also be
created, and it is worth considering whether a
wireless telegraphic apparatus should not bo
installed for convenience of communication. .

(j.) The Islands of Abu Musa, Tamb, and Sirri.

Abu Musa and Tamb.

In January 1903 Colonel Kcmball, the British
Resident in the Persian Gulf, reported that, in
consequence of the short-sighted policy of the
Belgian Customs officials, trade had to a large
extent been diverted from the Persian port of
Lingah, and local merchants were oudeavouiing
to arrange with the Bombay and Persian Naviga­
tion Company to make tho Island of Abu Musa
a port of call, apparently for the purpose of
facilitating their pearl business.
Colonel Keraball was apprehensive lest such a
conjuncture should result in a territorial claim
to this island being advanced by the Persian
Government who, in 1888, had laid claim to and
hoisted their flag on the adjacent Island of Sirri.
Incidentally it may be mentioned that, writing India office.
on the 28th April, 1888, Colonel Ross, then
British Resident, bad expressed a decided opinion
that no valid claim to Abu Musa could be
advanced by the Persian Government, while any
attempt to assert their authority in a practical
form would probably lead to disturbances.
Colonel Kcmball stated that the island un­
doubtedly belonged to the Jowasmi Sheikh of
Shargah (one of the Trucial Chiefs under British
protection). In the winter it was usually visited
by people from Khan and Shargah for purposes
ot fishing and grazing. In the pearling season