Page 140 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

118 Port V—Chap. XXVIII.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAINTAINING SECURITY IN TIIE
GULF; PROPOSED BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN THE GULF.
REMOVAL OF THE BRITISH DETACHMENT FROM RAS UL-
IiHIMA TO THE ISLAND OF KISHM, 1S20.

(i) (I) QUESTION OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAINTAINING SECURITY IN TIIE GULP.
(3) QUESTION OF REMOVING OUR RESIDENCY FROM RUS1IIRE AND PROPOSED
BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN TIIE GULF.
235. The attention of tho Government having been directed to a consi­
deration of the ultimate arrangements
Volume 52-49 of 1820-1821.
that it might bo necessary to make for the
purpose of maintaining tho security of the navigation of the Persian Gulf on
the termination of tho expedition, they were desirous of availing themselves of
the professional experience of Sir William Keir, and addressed him therefore
the following communication on tho 28th October 1819 :—•
“Tho atteution of the Right Honourable the Governor in Council having been directed to a
consideration of the ulterior arrangement which it may be necessary to form for the purpose
of maintaining the security of the navigation of the Gulf, on the termination of the present
expedition, is desirous of availing himself of your professioual experience iu the decision of
the important question.
Tho Governor in Council is satisfied that (ho object thus contemplated cannot, from the
distracted 6tate in which the Gulf has so long continued, arising out of the decline of
the influenoe of those authorities which formerly exercised a control over it and of the
ascendancy of the Power whose avowed views have been tho proseoution of piraoy, he
attained without the interposition of the British Government in a more active degree than
it has hitherto been our policy to adopt.
As a measure the most effectually conducive to tho permanent suppression of piracy on
the Persian Gulf, the oocupation by the British Government of a central and commanding
situation appears to be indispensable; nor is the Governor in Council aware of a more
eligible station than the Island of Kishm for that purpose, upon which, however, your opinion
is desired.
The next object for consideration is the formation of an establishment in the most
economical scale, under a prospect of deriving from the oustoms of the port a revenuo
sufficient for its support, which under the arrangement the trade would experience from the
British protection might be expected.
Tho transfer of the Residency from Bushire to tho new statiou would supply all that
appears to be essential to the political branch of the establishment, and the maintenance of
the same number of oruizers and the presence of one of His Majesty's ships of war as havo
been for some time back kept in the Gulf, would furnish a maritime force without any
enhancement of the expense, whioh has been hitherto inoreased for the security of its navi­
gation.
The factory was originally established at Bushire to promote tho vend of British g oods in
the interior of Persia by large consignments from Bombay. The more successful mod* e how-
ever in wbioh the vend has been promoted within those few years back by periodical salo at the
Resideney has entirely superseded the necessity for continuing a commercial factory at Bushire,
while whatever political advantages may be connected with our possessing an establishment
in the Persian dominions, independently of that whioh is maintained by His Majesty’s
Government at Tehran for the protection of the commercial interest of this country and for
preserving the political relations whioh have for so long a period subsisted between the Indian
and the Persian Governments, eould be secured mors effectually probably at such an Island as
Kishm as at Bushire.
The only additional expense there to which the British Government would be exposed by
the transfer of the Bushire Residency to a more commanding situation in the Gulf would
arise only of the military establishment which it would bo necessary to maintain either at
Kishm or any other station whioh you may prefer. Your opinion is therefore desired on the
extent of force it may be necessary to keep in the Gulf, in the formation of whioh you. will
not fail to hear in mind that our security will principally depend, the more especially if an
iilaqd be selected for the new establishment upon our maritime foroo.