Page 141 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part V-Ohop. XXVIII. 119
Tho Governor in Counoil is also dosirous ofroooiving your opinions upon the practicability
of increasing the requisite control in the Gulf of Persia by the establishment merely of a
factory in the Island of Kislun or any othor moro central station upon tho same scalo as
oxists at Bushiro and under tho participation of such privileges in tho imports and exports of
merchandize in British bottoms and of a share of tho customs as may bo nocossnry to compen­
sate us in somo dogreo for the oxpouso we shall incur in tho maintonunco of a maritime forco
in tho Gulf, in proforenco to tho occupation of tho wholo of that or of any othor island in
full sovereignty.
Tho Governor in Council is nlso anxious to receive suoh suggestions ns you may have to
offor for tho promulgation of a code of maritime regulations to be observed by the different
tribes in tho Gulf to cnnblo tho British cruizora to discriminate tho ono from tho other,
imposing restrictions in tho equipment of their boats, and an obligation in thorn to admit
our cruizers into thoir different ports and to Ecaroh all vessels for tho purpose of guarding
against any of thorn being equipped for warlilce purposes; and how far in your opinion the
different potty States may bo induced to aoquicece in suoh an arrangomont under a clear under­
standing that our objeot is limited to tho suppression of piracy and to re-establishment of a
forco and soouro commercial intercourse betwoeu tho different parts iu tho Gulf and those of
India.
It is understood that the Island of Kishm, ns well as Angar whioli is contiguous to it,
bolongs in full sovereignty to tho Imam of Maskat and should the roports that may bo received
from you and tho other porsons to whom the consideration of this important subject has been
ooufided bo favourable to tho moasuro now suggested, tho necessary negotiation will bo opened
for obtaining possession of tho spot that may bo fixed upon for forming tho establishment.”
285 A. Tho report of Sir William Grant Keir, datod 1st April 1820, on the
points raised by the Bombay Government
Volumo 31-47 of 1820-1821, page 91. is a very interesting ono and is quoted at
length below:—
Tho intention of removing tho British faotory from Bushire expected in your letter of
the 28th of October last, induoes me most respectfully to submit to the Honorable tho
Governor ia Council a few considerations which havo occurred to me after visiting that
place.
2. It appears that on the removal of the British factory from Goraberoon to Bushire
in the year 1762, tho last mentioned place was an insignificant fishing village, and that it
commenced to rise rapidly to its present state of prosperity from the poriod of that
removal; it may, therefore, he fairly presumed that the presence of the British Factory
by affording protection, and inspiring confidence, is the sole occasion of the flourishing condi­
tion of Bushire j for we may look in vain for any other adequate cause oither in its internal
Government, or in tho Government of Persia to which it owns allegiance.
8. The British Government has, I understand, derived important advantages from the
establishment of a considerable import aud export trade to and from Bushire; in deriving these
advantages it has induced many respectable merchants to settle at the place, and to remove
to it property to a considerable amount, which occasioned the opening of an extensive trade
with the interior of Persia by a new route. All this evinces a most gratifying faith in
British protection, and a confidence ba9 doubtless arisen that it will not be withdrawn
without warning, and affording time for securing or removing without any considerable loss,
valuable property that is risked under a pledge which may reasonably be implied, where benefits
are reciprocal between a Government and individuals, who, by certain circumstances,
controlled by that Government, havo been induced to hazard thoir persons and effeots in
the territory of a State that is little aware of the advantages to be derived from affording
protection to commerce, and security to proporly of all descriptions.
4. The Government are, I presume, possessed of the means of ascertaining readily
whether tho views now taken be correot; if they be, we may iufer that much advantage
would be derived, by nffording time and opportunity for a trade established under British
auspices, to take a new and natural course before removing the protection of a factory under
whioh it grew up. The establishment of a British settlement in the Gulf of Persia will
naturally attract this trade, whilst that of Bushire will in probability deoline, from the
removal of affluent individuals with their property to our more enlightened Government,
whioh will be calculated to diffuse commeroinl benefits by many new sources.
6. These considerations induce me respectfully to recommend that the factory at
Bushire may not be removed before 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 the Gulf of Persia.
6. Having received an intimation from His Majesty's Chargd d'Affaires at the Court
of Persia that he conceived addresses from me “ to the Shah, and Sudr Azam, would be
productive of a good effect.” I trust that the Governor in Council will approve of my
having transmitted through Mr. Willock tho communications of which the accompanying
are drafts, I forward likewise a copy of my letter to Mr. Willock on this occasion.
7. Whilst at Bushire I received from His Royal Highues9 tho Prince of Shiraz a
communioation of which I forward a translation as well as a draft of my reply. As connected
with these letters I also transmit the translation of a communioation from llama bin Jauber:
to this I have not made any reply as I have not been favoured by the receipt of any
instructions since the rofcrence made respecting that person in the 14th paragraph of my
despatch of Iho 25th of February,