Page 214 - Records of Bahrain (1) (i)_Neat

204 Records of Bahrain

rort V-Cbap. XXVIII. 119
Tlio Govornor in Counoil is also (losiroua of receiving your opinions upon tho practicability
of increasing the requisite control iff the Gulf of Persia by the establishment merely of a
factory in Iho Ieland of Kislun or any oilier moro central station upon tho sntno scalo ns
oxists at Busbiro and under Iho participation of such privileges in tho imports and exports of
morohandizo in British bottoms and of a almro of tho customs as may bo nocossary to compou-
sato ua in aorao dogreo for tho oxponeo wo shall iuour in tho maintonunco of a mnritimo force
in tho Gulf, in proforcnco to tho occupation of tho wholo of that or of nuy othor island in
full sovereignty.
Tho Governor in Council is also anxious to rocoivo auoh suggestions as yon may liavo to
offor for tho promulgation of a code of maritime regulations to bo observed by tho different
tribes in the Gulf to onablo tho British cruizora to discriminate tho ouo from tho othor,
imposing restrictions in tho equipment of tlioir boats, and an obligation in them to admit
our cruizcre into thoir different ports and to search all vessels for tho pnrposo of guarding
against any of thorn being equipped for warliko purposes; and how far in your opinion tho
difforcut potty States may ho induced to aoquicsco in such an arrangomont undor a clear under­
standing that our objeot is limited to tho suppression of piracy and to ro-cstnblishmcut of a
forco and 60ouro commercial intercourse between tho diHeront parts in tho Gulf and thoso of
India.
It is understood that tho Island of ICishm, as woll as Angar whioli is contiguous toil,
bolongs iu full sovovoiguty to tho Imam of Maskat and should tho voporte that may ho received
from you and tho other porsons to whom tho consideration of tbU important subject has been
ooufulcd bo favourable to tho raoasuro now euggeslo 1, the necessary negotiation will ho opened
for obtaining possession of tho spot that may ho fixnd upon for forming tho establishment.”
235 A. Tho report of Sir William Grant Koir, dated 1st April 1820, on tho
points raised by the Bombay Govcrninont
Volume 31-47 of 1820-1821, page 91. is a very intorosting ono and is quoted at
longlh below :—
Tho inlontion of romoviug tho British faotory from Busbiro oxpeoted in your letter of
tho 28ih of Ootober last, induocs iuo most rospnctfully to aubmit to tho Ilouorobla Iho
Governor in Council a few considerations which liavo occurred to me after visitiug that
place.
2. It appears that on the removal of tho British faotory from Gomberoon to Busbiro
in tho yonr 1702, tho Inst mentioned placo was an insignificant fishing village, and that it
commenced to riso rapidly to its present state of prosperity from tho poriod of that
removal; it may, therefore, lie fairly presumed that the presence of the British Factory
by affording protection, anil inspiring confidence, is the sole occasion of the flourishing condi­
tion of Jiushito; for wo may look in vain for any othor adequate cause either in il8 iutorual
Government, or in tho Govcrninont of Persia to which it owns allcgiauco.
3. Tho British Government has, I understand, dcrivod important advantages from the
establishment of a considerable import and export trade to and from Bushiro; iu doriving those
advantages it hoe induced many respectable merchants to nettle at tho placo, and to romovo
to it property to a oonsidorable amount, which occasioned tho opening of an oxtcu6ivo trade
with the interior of Persia by a new route. All this evinces a most gratifying faith iu
British protection, and a confidence has doubtless arisou that it will not ho withdrawn
without wnruiug, and affording time for securing or removing without any considerable loss,
valuablo property that is risked under a plodgo which may reasonably bo implied, whoro benefits
aro reciprocal between a Government and individuals, who, by cortnin oiroumsbnuces,
controlled by that Government, liavo bccu inducod to hazard thoir porsous and offcots iu
tho territory of a Stato that is liltlo aware of tho advantages to Oo dcrivod from affording
protection to commerce, and socurity to proporly of nil descriptions.
4-. The Govornraont aro, I presume, possessed of tho means of ascertaining readily
whether tho views now takon bo coned; if they be, wo may infor that much advantage
would bo dotived, by affording time and opportunity for a trade established undor British
auspices, to tako a new and natural course boforo romoving tho protcotiou of a factory undor
wbioh it grow up. Tho establishment of a British settlement in the Gulf of Persia will
naturally attract this trade, whilst that of Busbiro will iu probability doolino, from tho
removal of affluent individuals with thoir proporty to our moro onlightonod Govornraont,
wbioh will bo calculated to diffuse commercial bonefils by many new sources.
B. Theso considerations indueo mo respectfully to recommend that tho factory at
Bushire may not be removed beforo the general trade to that place shall have fallen naturally
into the course it will in all probability take, soon after the establishment of a British settle­
ment in tho Oulf of Persia.
0;-.Having received aij intimation from His Majosly'o Chargb d'Affaires at lho Court
of Persia! that ho conooivod add rossos from mo "to tho Shah, and Sudr Azam, would bo
nroductivo of a good offcct.” I trust that tho Govornor in Council will approvo of my
Laving transmitted through Mr, Willock tho communications of which tho aocompauyiug
are drafts, I forward likowiso a copy of my letter to Mr. Willock on this occasion.
7. Whilst at Busbiro I received from Ilis ltoyal Highness tho Prinoo of Shiraz a
communication of which I forward a translation as well os a draft of my roply. As connected
with theso letters I also transmit tho translation of a communication from llama bin Jnuber:
to this I liavo not mudo any roply as I havo not boon favourod by tho rocoipt of any
instructions eiuco tho roforouco made respecting that porsou in tho I4th paragraph of ray
despatch of the 20th of February,

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