Page 134 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

112 Part V—Chap. XXVIf.
llioso ports from thoso of tho otlior ports of Arabia, but if all arc allowed to sond out such
vessels the advantage of ascertaining the port to which each belongs is rot apparent. It was
not from ignorance of the ports from whence piratical vessels issued that we have so font? been
subjoctcd to their attacks. Thero appears ground to approhond that any vessels disposed
to renew the practice of piracy will sail with nil their papers ready to show to any ship of
superior strength, and under the colors of the friondly Aiabe, those means will at first enable
thorn moro onsily to deceive our vessels, and when they are detect* d ami their Chief declared
our enemy, his broach of tho present tieaty exposes him to no consequences which would not
have resulted from his piracy had that ogreomnnt never heon entered int*>, unless tho other Arabs
should adhero to their engagement to act agninst tho n, which cannot ho gonorally expected
except in cases whore thoso chiofs have themsolvos a sullhient interest to induce thorn to afford
'heir co-opojation. To give cllicncy to this stipulation for renters and port o lea ranees, it is
necessary that some penalty should he annexed to iis non-fulfilment, as it is probable tho Arab
Chiofs do not conceive that by promising to furnish the r vessels with such papora they havo
subjected them to capturo or evon detention if thoy should sad without being so provided.
11. It would also l<o txpcdicut, paitionlarly in the cvcut of tho consent of tho piratical
Chiefs being procured, to limit the 6izo and crews of their vessels, to insert a stipulation that
any Chiefs granting false papers should subject his own boats to seizure, tho principal objeot
of this stipulation is to prevent piratical port6 from sending out armed vessels under the name
of Chiefs not ad iioted to piraov. The possession of armed ship* by Chiofs not fo addicted is
an advantage to the British Government from tho means it affords for resisting prodatory
attacks.
12. I am now directed to communicate tho Governor in Council’s general upproval of the
preliminary treaty. Tho Governor in Council, however, dir-ots mo to remark on tho stipula­
tion for the surrender of all armed vessels at places to which the expedition might proceed, ho
oonoeives that tho end would have been bettor answered by demanding tho surrender of all
such vossols wheuever they might be, although the result will probably ho tho samo, nB tho
expedition will no doubt proceod to every port where thero may bo armed vessols belonging to
triles engaged in piracy,
13. The Governor in Council is desirous of further explanation of tho prohibition in some
eases against the Chiefs sending boats to sea which ho observes is not applici to Huisun bin
Rahrna und llussun Min Alice, although the most likely to employ their boats in disturbing
the tranquillity of the Gulph.
14. The exemption in favor of the Chief of Deebyi at the recommendation of the Imam
of M a skat is entirely approved. The agreement with Sheik Boothe the Chief of Bootbabee
has tho full approbation of tho Governor in Council ; it appears to be highly expedient to give
every eocourugemeut to Chiefs like him who have never been engaged in piracy.
15. The general stipulation against all piracy appears to tho Governor in Council to be a
sufficient security to Hts Highness the lmaum and our other allies from the future attacks of
communications as are, however, been perfectly judicious.
16. Your communications to the lmaum and to the Prince at Sheorawa regarding their
pioposed att ick on Bahrein were espresso l with great prudence and are highly approved on
this subject; I beg to refer you to ray letter of the 26th of January.
17. In reference to the statoment of Captain Bruce alluded to in paragraph 83 that the
British Government is precluded by a treaty with Persia from holding poa-ession of any island
in the Gulph, I am directed to observe that no such article has been communicated to this
Government. Tho arrangements for reducing tho tonuage as reported in paragraph 34 are
approved.
18-19. You will have anticipated from the preoeding part of this lei ter as well aa from my
former despatches, that- the Governor in Council is unable to concur in ihe justice of the
opinion couveyed in paragraphs 87, 38 and 39 regarding the release of Hussein Bin Allee;
1 am, however, directed to observe that on this and all other points ia which he is oompelled
to withhold his full concurrence ia the policy you have adopted, he is well aware that from
the necessity which ia your julgment existed for you acting without instructions, you were
placed in a situution of much difficulty and delicacy ; and although his own sentiments are
deoided as to the course which could have boen expedient, he is fully sensible that you have
been guided in that which you pursued no lees by a liberal view of the advantages of your own
Government, than by a laudable regard to the interests of humanity.
20. I have now to add the instructions of the Governor in Couucil in the manner in whioh
Ras-ool-Khyma i9 to he disposed of; and on the nature nud extent of the force to be
permanently stationed in the Persiau Gulph.
21. The Governor in Council continues to be of opinion that Ras-ool-Khyma is by no
means an eligible place for the establishment above alluded to, independently of the risk of
such a possession involving us iu the disputes of the continent, the number of troops required
to guard it would frustrate the object of its institution, by proventing its sending out
s ifficieut detachments either to attack piratical vessels at sen or to burn them in their ports.
It may be abeolutely necessary to retain possession of it, if it should clearly appear that we
are precluded from holding any island in tho Gulph, aud unless you receive satisfactory proof
of the existence of au agreement to that effect, you will bo pleased to make over Ras-ool-
Khyma to the lmaum of Mascat, if His Highuess should consent to accept it, aud if yoyt