Page 364 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

10
Kliolat, the .Tam of Beyla and the Chiefs of Koj and Pasni (vide Aitchison’s
Treatise, Volume IX, pages 091, 395, 401-401).
17A. Tlio line from Karachi to Gwadur was completed on 30th April
18G3 (sec paragraph 13 of report of
•.Politlcl A, August 18G3, Nos. 63-G7.
Commissioner in Sind,* No. 70, dated 4th
June 1803).
(lii) Proposed lease or purchase of Gwadur, 1803.
17B. In April 1863 Mr. S. Mansfield, Commissioner in Sind, proceeded on
a tour round the Persian Gulf, and while
Political A—G. G., August 1863, Nos. 63-07.
at Maskat discussed with the Sultan a
proposal either to purchase or obtain a lease of Gwadur. He found the Sultan
strongly indisposed to sell the place, but prepared to give a lease of the
promontory and town of Gwadur for a term of ten years, subject to a re­
newal from time to time on the same terms, on an annual rental of 12,000
dollars, which was considered an exorbitant sum, considering the then actual
revenue, which could not be more than 5.000 dollars a year. Mr. Mansfield,,
however, advocated strongly the advisability of obtaining a lease of the place
on a reasonable annual rental.
17C. The Bombay Government were opposed to this proposal and though*1
that only such portion of land as was actually required for the purpose of
telegraph should be rented. The Government of India agreed with the Bombay
Government “as to the manifold disadvantages attending such a measure, not
the least of which would be the suspicion that would give rise that the lease
was only a pretext for covering an appropriation of territory”. The Govern­
ment of India also wished that the Imam might be informed that the British
Government would be quite content with the lease of ground • sufficient for
accommodation of the telegraph offices and quarters, etc., so as to avoid any
appearance of weakening the Sultan’s authority at Gwadur or of desiring to
occupy any part of his possessions even to the small extent proposed ( No. 484,
dated 8tli August 1863). It may be noted here that the telegraph station at
Gwadur was abolished in 1893 and the cable joined direct from Manora to
Jask.
(It) Obstruction of the Persian Governor Ibrahim Khan of Bumpin' to the progress of
the telegraph line to Gwadur—claims of Persia to Gwadur and the rest of Mekrau.
18. From the Sind frontier, at the Hubb Kiver, to Gwadur, the country
Government Resolution, 2Sth Doco.nhor 1861- SS* ??***.. ‘I'6 S0Vei'0i^>ty ,°f
Sucretnry to the Government of India, to the KllCl&t. GWQUUI itself W as U possession
Government of Bombay, No. 1061 of 17th of the Sultan of Maskat. Westward of
November 18G2. Gwadur it was not thought advisable,
under the circumstances, to proceed; at all events until further diplomatic
aotion had been taken.
19. But there had been a threatening of political difficulties from the
Persian side even during the construction of the Telegraph line to Qxoadur.
Ibrahim Khan of Bampur, the executive officer of the Kerman Government,
and representative of all Persian interests in Baluchistan,'came forward to
exercise interference on behalf of his masters. Three letters addressed by him
at this period to tho Sultan of Maskat, the Khan of Khelat, and the Wali of
Gwadur, respectively, are significant.
Accompaniment to letter No. 11, of 9th April
1803, from the Commissioner iu Sind, To tho Sultan ho wrote:
Government of Bomba;.
“ Flying rumours wore constantly reaching to tho effect that the English Telegraphic
wire was being extended along the Sea Coast. The matter not being one of certainty, I held
back, and did not notify the circumstance to you, my broihor. In theso days, however,
two Regiments of Infantry and four guns, that had been detached for the purpose of collecting
the levenuc of Beluchistan, arrived ; and fresh intelligence was picked up on the road that
the English had carried the telegraphic wire to within two stages of Gwadur. Now, although
peace exists between the States of Great Britain and Persia, still, being a servant of tho Shah,
I became afraid that the Persian Ministers would call me to account and ask me how, being
on the spot, l had permitted them (the English) to carry their wire along Mekran soil and tho
soil of States protected by Persia. I therefore assembled my one Regiment of Iufantry and