Page 147 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Fart V—Chap. XXVIIL 125
Government had at first determined to sond a person to Kishm to order the
troops away; and an Agont to India to remonstrato against the occupation of
that island. Sir Henry succeeded in averting both these designs ; the first, in
his opinion, could not have boon productive of the ond contemplated by the
Porsian Government, and tbo second would have embarrassed the Hon’blo
Governor of Bombay.
249. A prominent feature in the note of tbo Persian Ministers was a
dcsiro to interpret the stipulations of the llth Articlo of the Treaty of 1814 to
a general prohibition against British ships of war entering Persian ports
without express permission. Sir Henry opposed this intent, but the Persian
Government persisted in their contention. The following is a translation of
tho noto presented by the Porsian Ministers ou 9th December 1820 : —
At a former period when Iiifl Majesty’s Charged' Affaires and the Hoa'blo East India
Company’s Agont, in consequence of an article of the Treaty which provides that British
ships of war shall not enter Porsian ports without permission of tho Persian Government,
asked this favour for tiio purpose of punishing tho Joasmis ; as these people have molested the
subjects of both States, and particularly persons coueerned in the trade with Iudia, this per­
mission was granted.
His Majesty’s Charge d’ Affaires likowiso stated that after punishmeut of the Joasmis,
it would bo neceseary still to keep some British troops in the Persian Gulf to prevent a
recurrence of piracy, and that tho Imam of Mask at (who on that part of Persia is the Governor
of Bandor Abbas and its dependencies) was willing to allow of a British Settlement on the
Island of Kishm or Hcnjam; to this was answered, that first Maskat is n dependency of
Persia, and as the Imam has not tho power of permitting tho residence of British troops at
Maskat, much less cau he grant a permission at Kishm and Hcnjam which are dependencies
of Bandar Abbas. If auy further steps are necessary to check piracy in the Persian Gulf,
these can effectually be taken by the Priuce of Fars and no foreign aid is requisite. And at
this time when the friendship between our States is 60 perfect, if any assistance should be
required to preserve the tranquillity on tbo 6eas so desirable to both States, no doubt the
British Government will readily afford it, when by the co-operation of the Prince of Shiraz tho
objects will be readily effected.
At this time we have heard that a British force has landed at Kishm. Although our
States are as one, and no differences exist between us, yet, as has been before observed the
state of affairs does not require the presence of British troops, and now that the Joasmis are
subdued, His Royal Highness tho Prince of Fars will use his utmost endeavours in preserving
the security of the Persiau Gulf, and if ships of war aro necessary for this purpose, orders will
be given for their outfit.
We do not know on what account the troops from India have settled in the Persian Gulf.
In short orders will be issued by His Majesty to flis Royul Highness the Prince of Fars to
send a person to the troops on Kishm desiring them immediately to leave it, and we now
request His Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires to direot the officer Commanding at Kishm to return
to India with his troops and to write to the Hou’ble the Governor of Bombay or to whatever
it may be necessary, in future to avoid such acts whioh are contrary to the spirit of the Treaty
between our two States. He has even offended against the interests of his own Government,
for although Mr. Bruce was acquainted that at the request of the Imam au expedition had
been fitted out for the punishment of the people of Bahrein, and that His Royal Highness the
Prince of Shiraz had undertaken this scheme, he went to Bahrein.
250-266. The following minute was recorded by Sir Mon9tuart Elphinstone
on this correspondence:—
The King of Persia’s claim to Kishm does not appear to bo strengthened by his present
arguments, but on the contrary to be weakened by His Majesty’s Minister making it in part
depend on his sovereignty over Maskat, a pretensiou which seems to be entirely untenable.
The King of Persia’s alarm at our occupation of Kishm appears, however, to be serious
and unfeigned, and on this ground the Hon’ble the Governor would be disposed to give up
the measure if it were uot one of urgout necessity.
It is believed also that the British Government has in some measure countenanced the
claim of tho King of Persia to Kishm by requesting f$pm His Majesty in the year 1799 the
cation of that island. The application seems n«»t to have originated in an erroneous notion
of His Majesty’s rights, but it ought to make this Government more delicate in its conduct
at present.
On the other hand, all the officers, Political, Naval, and Military, who have been employed
in the Gulf are of opinion that without a station in that part of the sea, toe shall never he
able to eradicate piracy, aud the depredations carried ou by the Joasmis are of suoh a nature,
as it is impossible to bear, not having been confined to the Persian Gulf, but extending to tbe
coasts of India.
By all the reports hitherto received the Hon'ble the Governor is led to believe that no
other station would answer the purpose, which would not be as objectionable in the eyes of
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