Page 450 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

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278. Thoro lias recently como forward a claimant to Gwadur in the
person of tho Jam of Bey la. Ho affirms
Secret E., March 1005, Nob. 203*208.
that Gwadur with some other territory
was given in dower to Jam Mir Khan I, when ho married Bihi Sultan Khatun,
daughter of Nasir Khan tho Groat, and widow of Jam Gulam Shah. When
Jam Mir Khan hoard of the grant of Gwadur made by tho Khan of Kliclnt,
ho protested againt disposal of what belonged to him, and not to tho Khan, that
afterwards tho Mir took possession of Gwadur and held it for some 12 years
(probably from 1818 to 1830, if tho account is true). Since thou the Jams
of Boyla have admittedly nevor been in possession of tho place.
279. On this claim tho Political Agent, Khelat, in his letter No. 9, dated
1901, that tho point was one, which could, if thought desirable, bo taken
up as between Kalat and Las Boyla should Government ever press Baluchistan
claims to tho port and obtained its rendition, but that as the Jam and his imme­
diate ancestors have not raised this olaim before, as Gwadur is situated in
Kalati Mekran and not in Lns Bey la, and as Kalut has undoubtedly had recent
relations with Maskat with regard to the port, it hardly seemed that the Jam’s
pretensions noed bo seriously considered.
Colonel Yato concurred in this opinion (lottor No. 374-, dated 7tli July
1904).
280. It might he also argued that the British Government as the suzerain
of Kalat, might olaim also suzerainty over Gwadur, if it once belonged to
Kalat and if Kalat has still a reversionary title to the place (See Sir W. Lee-
Warnor’s demi-official dated 4th December 1900). Against this view, it might
Secret E., September 1903, Nos. 111-118 he contended that Gwadur was presented
(Notes’. to Maskat when we had no political
relations with Kalat, when the latter was a vassal of Kabul, and that therefore
we cannot olaim now a suzerainty, which did not exist at tho time of tho
original grant.
281. The question of the rendition of Gwadur to Baluchistan was first
raised during Lord Curzon’s Viceroyalty by Seyyid Mahomed bin Azam, VazU'
of tho Sultan of Maskat, in conversation with Major Cox in the months of
January and February of 1901. The Vazir told Major Cox repeatedly that it
was vitally important for the British Government to become possessed of Gwadur.
Major Cox writing demi-officially on this matter to the Secretary, Foreign
Department, did not feel sure whether the Vazir’s motives were honest or
whether he did not wish to entrap him into some expressions, which Mr.
Ottavi could make capital of to create misunderstanding between the British
Government aud tho Sultan. It was possible that the Russians had designs
on the place, and thoro was one. Mods. Zarondry, who was lurking about the
Perso-Mekran frontier at the time.
282. Major Cox was told in reply under orders of Lord Curzon (demi-
official, dated 2nd April 1901).—
“ So far nothing has been heard of the foreign designs on Gwadur, but it is a point that
requires careful watching. 1 am to request that should the Sultan ever allude again to
Gwadur, the opportunity may be taken to remark that the British Government would certainly
not permit Gwadur, surrounded as it is by territory under their control, to be in any way
associated with another power*'
283-284. The question was then raised whether, in order to prevent tho
importation of arms by way of Gwadur, it would not bo feasible to detach it
from the Sultan’s dominions in Oman.
2S5. The following is the despatch that was addressed to the Secretary
of State (No. 159-Secret-External, dated
Secret E., September 1902, Nos. 111-118.
4th September 1902):—
In connection with tho endeavours which have recently been made to check the import­
ation of arms and ammunition into Persia, our attention has been drawn to the position of
Gwadur, as a port through which arms can bo imported into Baluch-Makrau and the interior
of Persia.
2. As Your Lordship is aware, Gwadur has becu in possession of the Rulers of Maskat
since the clo^c of the 18th century, when it was conferred upon Saiyid Sultan, a Maskat
refugee, by the Khan of Kalat.
In 1891, at the instance of our Political Agent at Maskat, the Sultan issued an order *
• Copy encloicd. prohibiting tho import or export of arms and
J ammunition to or from Gwadur territory. We