Page 89 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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Farsi('ai)
64. Until 1936 the status of Farsi and also of Arabi and Harqus was regarded
as indeterminate. Beacons were erected on them by the Government of India
with the approval of His Majesty’s Government in 19I4.f”) In 1936, as the
representative of an oil company began to show interest in these islands, the
political authorities in the Persian Gulf recommended that they should either be
annexed by His Majesty’s Government or that the Ruler should be encouraged to
plant his flag on them.*113) When enquiries from the Ruler were made about their
ownership, he claimed Farsi and Arabi without hesitation but had never heard
of Harqus.(11') He later stated in support of his claim that within the memory of
man Kuwait pearlers and fishermen had been the sole users of the two islands for
careening their vessels and for fishing.*1'4) There was much departmental discussion
about the action to be taken regarding the islands. It was agreed that it was
impossible for His Majesty’s Government to annex them and that it was undesirable
that the Ruler should plant his flag on them. A proposal that he should be
encouraged to strengthen his claim by some less obtrusive method and that at
the same time he should be warned that His Majesty’s Government would not
be able to support his claim should another country produce a better one found
some favour*130) but no orders were issued and no action was taken.
65. There were no further developments until 1945 when the Government
of India referred to the Political Resident a proposal to erect a light on Farsi.
The Ruler was consulted and agreed in writing to the proposal. No action was
taken at the time and in the latter half of 1946 the Political Resident referred to
His Majesty’s Government the proposal to erect a light beacon on Farsi and, in
ignorance of the previous approach to the Ruler, suggested that his consent should
be obtained in writing and that at the same time he should be warned orally that
his claim to the island could not be supported if another country produced a better
one. The Ruler again agreed in writing to the erection of the beacon and was
given an oral warning on the lines proposed.*13’) Even before work on this beacon
started the Saudis got wind of it and protested.*138) They were informed orally that
steps had been taken to replace the unlighted beacon, which had been erected by
His Majesty’s Government on Farsi in 1914, by a lighted beacon in order to meet
the requirements of shipping and that His Majesty’s Government had for long
regarded the island as belonging to Kuwait and had been unaware that the Saudis
claimed it.*130) The Saudis returned to the charge, claiming the island on the
grounds of propinquity. The Ruler of Kuwait was asked whether he wished his
claim to the island to be supported as against the Saudis and replied in the
affirmative.*110) In May 1949 as it had been reported that the Saudi Arabian
Government intended to proclaim their sovereignty over Farsi and other islands in
the group, when they issued their declaration about the sea-bed, His Majesty’s
Embassy addressed a note to them mentioning this report and suggesting that as
Kuwait also claimed some or all of the islands no proclamation of sovereignty
should be made pending discussion of the respective claims of Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait.*141)
66. Towards the end of 1948 the Persians heard a rumour that the Ruler
of Kuwait was trying to interest certain oil companies in Farsi and neighbouring
islands and made informal enquiries on the subject. In December a tin plate was
found on Farsi bearing the words “ Persian Soil *’ in Persian and similar
inscriptions were found on the beacon.*112) In March 1949 His Majesty’s Embassy
at Teheran addressed a note to the Persian Government stating that His Majesty s
Government considered that the island belonged to Kuwait and in consonance with
this view had performed various actions on it in the past. So far as they were
("«) F.O.R.D. Note of August 20. 1948 (E 11181/276/91 of 1948).
(”*) p. 106. P.G. 13.
('”) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 3422/36 of May 20. 1936 (E 2902/2902/91 of 1936).
('*<) IO. to F.O. P.Z. 7366/36 of October 19. 1936 (E 6641/2902/9I of 1936).
(•») I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 938/37 of February 12. 1937 (E 941 /184/91 of 1937).
(»3«) I.O. to F.O. P.Z. 2491/28 of November 30. 1938 (E 7220/1154/91 of 1938). _ -
(,3T) IO. to F.O. Ext. 583/47 of March 21. 1947 (E 2526/64/91 of 1947) and Ext. 1-6//4/
of June 13. 1947 (E 5165/64/91 of 1947).
(>33) Tel. from Jedda to P.R. 6 of April 12. 1947 (E 3121 /64/91 of 1947).
(«>•) Jedda to F.O. Despatch 127 of July 4. 1948 (E 9144/175/91 of 1948).
('“) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 332 of July 9. 1949 (E 8364/1082/91 of 1949).
(•«») Jedda to F.O. Despatch 95 of May 23. 1949 (E 6919/1082/91 of 1949).
(><’) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 293 of December 20. 1948 (E 16182/276/91 of 1948).