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been advised by the Russian Legation to anticipate, while there was yet time,
any seizure as a possible result of it by us of the islands or other strategic points
in those waters.
217. Fora further he account of the conversation between Sir A. Hardinge
and Mods. Naus, and the measures taken for the removal of the Persian flag, we
shall quote the former’s report to the Foreign Offc', dated 24th May 1904:—
Mona. Naus was good enough to show me in confidence Mons. Dambrain’s reports to him
about his visits to Sirri. Tamb, Abu Musa, and Bassidorc. The account of the latter place
which I visited myself with His Excellency Lord Curzon, and of the nature of our claims
to it, was very accurate. Mons. Dambrain reported that proposals had from time to time
been made by Lingah merchants to’movc over to Bassidorc and convert it into a free pore
or cm porium, but that these suggestions had always been discouraged by the British
Residency at Bushire, as impracticable, and not really advantageous to British trade with
Oman and the Arab Coast generally. As regards Tamb and Abu Musa. Mons. Dambrain
stated that he had found the Arab flag flying, and had removed it, notwithstanding the pro
tests of a care-taker who professed to represent the Shaikh of Shargah, and had hoisted the
Persian flag, not so far as my recollection goes, on tbe same flag-staff, but on an adjacent
spot. At Sirri- he had found no flag-flying, and had hoisted the Persian one without
remark. He reported in this connection tbat no claim was made to Sirri on behalf of any
Arab Chief.
I observed that in 1888 we had objected to the assertion of Persian sovereignty over
Sirri, but that the question appeared to have been shelved. I had no orders from your
Lordship to re-open it, but I must ask that immediate instructions should be sent to
Mons. Dambrain to remove the Persian flags from Tamb and Abu Musa.
Mons. Naus said he would at once ask authority from the Persian Government to this
effect. Mons. Dambrain had, he observed, no business to romovc the Arab flag. He had
not been told to do so by the Persian Government, which was ignorant of the Arab
occupation of the islands, and he himself. (Mons. Naus) could only repudiate his action.
What he should have done was to make further enquiries as to the circumstances under
which the Jaosmi flag was hoisted on these islands, and to report to Tehran for further
orders. His Excellency thanked me for my courtesy in giving the Persian officials an
opportunity of themselves rectifying this hasty step.
A few days later Mons. Naus informed me that lie had spoken on this subject to the
Prime Minister, who was a little inclined to be obstinate about the Shah's rights and he
asked me to mention the matter to His Highness. I intended doing so at my interview
on the 8th instant, reported in other despatches, but the Mushir-ed-Dowleh, whom I saw
just before it, begged me to leave the matter in his own hands, and assured me that he
would himself settle it with the Shah.
I accordingly called to-day at the Foreign Office to be informed of His Majesty’s
decision. Mons. Naus was present at our interview, and showed me a telegram which he was
just sending to Bushire informing Mons. Dambrain that the question of sovereignty over
Tamb and Abu Musa was a disputed one, and ordering him, with the least possible delay,
to. remove the Persian flag from those islands. The Mushir-cd-Dowleh observed in
this connection that the Persian Government considered it had a claim to these two islands,
and reserved its right to discuss that claim with me. 1 assented, and expressed my
willingness to submit to your Lordship any representations which His Excellency might
do me the honour to make to me.
218. On 24th May 1904, Sir A. Hardinge telegraphed to the Government
of India that the Persian Government, while reserving its right to discuss with
His Majesty's Government our resfcctire claims as to Abu Musa and Tamb, had
telegraphed orders to Bushire to remove Persian flags and guards from these
islands. In pursuance of the orders issued from Tehran the Persian flags were
removed from the islands on the 14th June
Ibid, Nos. 364-372 and 283.
1904. (Telegram dated 22nd June 1904,
from Major Cox to Simla), and a few days afterwards Trucial flags were hoisted
by the Chief of Shargah's men on both the islands and two of his men stationed
on each.
219. In his telegram dated 31st May 1904, Major Cox suggested to the
Government of India that the present
ibid, No. 269.
opportunity might be embraced to take
some action regarding the Sirri island, in connection with which the position
seemed indentical with that of Tamb and Abu Musa islands, and in his letter
dated nth June 1904, he suggested that we should press the matter again on
the Persian Government on a request to be made by the Chief of Shargah. From
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