Page 167 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Pftrt V-Chap. XXXIII. 145
he hat been pleased to remove you from your appointment of Resident at Bushire and to
diroot you to return to Bombay, delivering overcharge of tho factory nt Bushire to fcho Surgeon
at tho Rosidonoy, and of all instructions relating to tho goneral politics of tho Qulf to
Lieutennnt-Colonol Kcnnett.
289. Tho following is tho draft of a letter, a Persian translation of which
was signed and addressed by tho Governor of Bombay to His Royal Highness
Hossoin Ali Mirza, tho Prinoo Regent of Pars :—
I havo tho honour to acknowlodgo tho receipt of Your Royal Highno^a letter, and ara
most sensible of tho friendly feelings and gratoful for tho sentimonta of regard with which
you aro pleased to honour mo. Tho allusions in your Royal Highness’s letter to negotiations
with Captain Bruco havo sinoo been explained by a treaty forwarded by that gentleman.
It is a subjeot of much concern to this Government to find that Captain Bruco boa thus
exceeded his powors, and I, therefore, loso no limo in apprising Your Royal Ilighnoss of tbs
mistnko into whioh that gentlomnn has fallen.
It is propor to explain dearly to your Royal Highness that Captain Bruoe had been
merely directed to return to his duty at Bushire, and had received no authority to proceed to
Shiraz, and no powors or orodontiaU to outer on any negotiation whatever with your Royal
Highness; the treaty which ho has concluded is, thorofore, his own aot, and not that of
this Government. I accordingly disavow it, and desiro it to be considered exactly as if it
had nevor been written.
After this declaration it is unnecessary to discuss the articlos of the treaty. I
appears necessary, however, for mo to remark that it i9 not the intontion of this Government
to take any part in the claims of tho 60veral powers and States of tho Porsian Gulf further
than may be uecossary to prevent a renewal of piracy. With respect to tho flag said to havo
been granted to tho Attabcos, the fact is, that by the treaty concluded by Sir W. G. Keifc
with all the Arab Chiefs in the Gulf, it is agreed that, for tho purpose of distinguishing the
pirates from those who abstain from piracy, the latter should oarry a white square within a
red flag: this being the case, there oan bo nothing in tho flag to give offence to Persia, as
there is not tho smallest connection between it and tho British flag, nor tho smallest
pretension to superiority on the part of the British Government.
With regard to Kishm, I had long since applied to the Most Noble the Governor-
General for his oonseut for the recall of the dotacbmont, and having now obtained it, the
troops have already been ordered to return, and tho island to be made over to the Iraaura of
Maskat, from whom it was reoeived by the British Government; but in doing so, this Gov­
ernment is aotuatod by considerations of its own convenience : aud with respect to the claims
of the Government of Persia on that island, they have not as yet been proved.
The embarrassment Captain Bruce’s mistake must lead to is much regretted by this
Government, but I bog leave to assure you that my respect for your Royal Highness and
my wish to preserve tho friendly relations between tho British and Persian Governments
undiminished. I trust, therefore, that Your Royal Highuoes will not allow any distrust to
enter your mind on account of this unauthorized and unforeseen proceeding of Captain
Bruce.
I beg leavo to apprize Your Royal Highness that that officer has been recalled to India,
and that another gentleman will bo appointed to succeed him, who will make it his business
to cultivate and improve tho existing friendship.
Your Royal Highness’s correspondence will at all times bo a source of much gratification
and any commissions you may havo in tbo quartor shall bo promptly exeouted.

290. Translation of an Agreement proposed by His Royal Highness Hussein
Ali Mirza through his Minister Zeki Khan and discussed between him
and Willi ah Bruce, Esq., Resident of Bushire, on 8th August 1822.
Preamble.
As the arrangement and settlement of the affairs of subjects are entrusted
to Kings and their Governors, and the prosperity of the States depends upon
tho unanimity and friendship existing between Governors of adjoining Provinces
for this purpose, the States of Great Britain and Persia enterod into terms of
amity and good understanding, that the subjects of each aud their forces
might enjoy tranquillity and prosperity, the Governors of Provinces adjacent
had maintained this appearance and had rested satisfied without actually
fulfilling them. Two years previous to this it became necessary to suppress
the piratical acts committed by tho Joasmis (?) for whioh purpose troops
arrived from India in the Gulf of Persia and a few acts were committed by
thorn erroneously which did not accord with the good understanding existing
with this State, in consequence of which His Royal Highness Hussein Ali
Mirza deemed it advisable for the good of his Government to make known