Page 204 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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Translation of a letter from the Sadr Azam to Mr. Grek.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note, dated nth September
1894, regarding the island of Sirri. You have stated in your note that “ the Joasmi
Sheikhs represented their family only and derived no right from their position towards the
Persian Government.'* In reply, I have the honour to inform you that if the Persian Gov­
ernment had exercised jurisdiction over this island only in the time of the Joasmi Sheikhs
and the inhabitants of place were Joasmis only, then the statements made in your note
could be considered. Even when the Joaasmi Sheikhs were not Governors of Lingah, the
Persian Government had always exercised jurisdiction over Sirri island. For example,
when Sad-ul-Mulk (who was recently recalled from the Government of the Persian Gulf
and who is now in Tehran) was Governor of Lingah, he exercised jurisdiction over the
above-mentioned island. Besides this I must state that the population of Sirri has never
been confined to the Joasmis, but people of various nationalities have resided there, and
have always been under tho jurisdiction of the Governor of Lingah. I must further state
that the submission of tribes to each other in time of need has nothing to do with the
transaction of business ; for example, the former of a property may assist his cousin in
time of need when application is made to him, but in paying the rent or exercising juris­
diction over the property he would not.take into consideration the relationship existing
between them, unless his cousin had to do something with the property on behalf of the
owner.
Considering the above fact, if the Joasmis have ever given any assistance, it has been
for the sake of the kinsmanship, but in paying the Government dues, such as 10 per cent,
of the goods shipped to the island, which are considered as Government taxes in the ports,
they have always paid them to the Governors, whether Joasmi or not. It cannot be con­
ceived that they have endured these impositions simply because they were kinsmen.
The Joasmis have always joined with people of other nationalities residing in the
island in paying the Government does to the non-Joasmi Governors. The Arab Sheikhs
have always farmed the Government revenues of the island from the Governors of Lingah.
One of these Sheikhs is Sheikh Yusul who, a few years ago, farmed the revenues from
the Sad-ul-Mulk, and with His Excellency’s permission constructed certain works, such as
a reservoir, etc., in the island.
I feel sure that these arguments will meet with your approval, and will leave no doubt
as to the rights of the Persian Government over this island.
1 need not point out to you that the Persian Government will never remove their
flag from the island in question.
213. Colonel Wilson discusses the Sadr Azam’s arguments in an interesting
memorandum of May 1895, which is quoted
Secret E., November 1^95, Nos. 79-85-
below:—
In a reply dated 7th Jamad I 1312 (6th November 1894) to the note by Her Britannic
Majesty’* Charge d’AfTairesof nth September 1894, the Persian Government has set forth
certain arguments in support of its claim to the Island of Sirri.
His Highness the Sadr Azam, basing the Persian claim to the island upon the constant
exercise of jurisdiction even when Joasmi Sheikhs have not been Governors of Lingah^
states " for example when Sad-ul-Mulk * * * * abovementioned Island.
This must refer to the period when the administration of Lingah and Bunder Abbas
having been separated from that of Fars-Sad-ul-Mulk (as Muhammad Hassan Khan)
was appointed deputy for the administration under the Amin-es-Sultan. Sad-ul-Mulk
held this charge from June 1883 to March 1884, or about 9 months, in which short period,
proof of an alleged long established jurisdiction can hardly be found. And it was about
the end of this period that Sheikh Yusuf, who was the actual Governor of Lingah from
1878 till his death in 1885, wrote on 1st Jamad 11 1301 (29th March 1884) to the Cluefof
Ras-el-Kbymah, fully admitting the possession of the Island of Tamb by the Joasmis.
This possession was also admitted by Khalifah-bin-Sad ‘and Ali-bin-Kkalifah, the
predecessors of Sheikh Yusuf, as Chiefs or Governors of Lingah.
With regard to the allegation that Sheikh Yusuf farmed the revenues of Sirri from
the Sad-ul-Mulk, I would observe that Sheikh Yusuf himself held the Governorship of
Lingah for six or seven years, during which he would in natural course, according to the
view of the British Government, be concerned with the administration of the Island oa b®*
half of the Joasmis. The necessity for farming the Island revenues from the Sad-ul-MulK
towards the close of his period of authority is difficult to understand.
Again the circumstances attending the assertion of Persian authority over the island,
and the mode in which it was effected in 1887, certainly do not point to a long establish*:
and well recognized possession, which had been effectively cxercised by the lease of e
revenues in years immediately preceding. In September of 1887 an armed party wl
two small cannon was sent to erect a flagstaff and to hoist the Persian flag on birri, a
this proceeding certainly has not the appearance of an ordinary incident in the course
a long maintained possession.