Page 209 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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“ The Governor of Bushirc has reported that the Sheikh of Shargah is erecting
buildings which are forts presumably on the island of Tamb, and that the Persian Govern­
ment in view of these protest against its occupation have asked that this shall be stopped
until the question of ownership, which they arc prepared to discuss with me, is settled.
1 have pointed that the revival of this claim to Tamb meant the revival if ours to Sirri,
cohere they built a Custom House last year. What are the facts of the case ? "
226. Major Cox replied on 1st June:—
“Your telegram No. 91 regarding Tamb reached me at Maskat and on return journey
1 landed at Tamb. 1 had also visited the island on 4th April, the report which the Governor
have sent to Teheran has not the slightest foundation, and I trust Your Excellency will
take exception to these troublesome vexations.”
227. The necessary explanation was then given by Sir A. Hardinge to the
Persian Government.
On 13th July 1905 Mr. Grant Duff telegraphed to Major Cox that the
Darya Bcgi had informed the Persian
Secret E, Noromber 1905, Nos 39*43*
Government that he had been to Tamb
and that the Chief of Shargah had built 30 houses on the island. Major Cox re­
ported that the 30 houses were merely mud and thatched huts at the original
village, that the reopening of the question was believed to be due to Russian
promptings, as one Russian Consular Agent, Bunder Abbas, had accompanied
Darya Bcgi on his first trip. Major Cox suggested that we should refuse to
discuss fictitious reports regarding Tamb, unless the Persian first removed their
flag from Sirri. Major Cox in his letter No. 350, dated 23rd July 1905, refers
to the Russian intrigues in regard to these islands. He attaches great importance
to the island of Tamb from a strategical point of view and suggests that we
should adopt a firm attitude in view of the Persian movements at Sirri and
Henjam.
228. In February 1905 some of the inhabitants of the Sirri island murdered
a British Indian subject at sea, and the
Secret E, June 1905, Nos. 170 and 177.
murderers were taken into the custody by
the Persian Deputy Governor at Lingah. Major Cox in reporting these facts
by telegram to the British Minister at Teheran and to the Government of India
(telegram dated 7th February 1905), asked whether he should demand this
punishment as Persian subjects from the Governor of Bushire. The following
view was expressed by the Government of India in their telegram, dated 17th
February, to Sir A. Hardinge :—
“ Please refer to Major Cox's telegram of the 7th February. We think that he should
address Governor pointing out that as the Governor is no doubt aware the question of
ownership of Sirri has been under discussion between the British and Persian Govern­
ments; that in the present case that a British subject has been murdered, and that as
the criminals are on Persian soil and in Persian custody, it is assumed without prejudice
to the larger issue, that the men will be promptly and adequately dealt with by the Persiao
Government.’'
This telegram was repeated to Major Cox.
[As regards Persian intrigues on the Arab Coast in 1900-01 after the revolution
at Lingah, vide the Trucial Chiefs' Precis, 1854—/poj.

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