Page 329 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VIII—Chap. LXX1X. 307
porformod. The relations of the British Stato with all tho Powers in that quarter, small as
well as great, all having connections with ono another oither amicablo or hostile, all requiring
to be looked at in that ono point of view in which they may affect tho British interests, would
then be cotnprohcudod in ono plan of superintendence and managed upon a uniform system.
Wo do not thiuk it necessary to oulargo upon these advantages; bocauso all that we should
say will occur to yourselves. Without dosiring you immediately to act upon these suggestions
wo desire you to take them into your serious consideration, and without delay to mako us
acquainted with the rosult of your deliberations. We shall also desire the opinion of the
Supremo Government on tho subject, and shall instruct them to communicate their sentiments
to you. If the Supremo Government should agree with us in tho propriety of tho raeasuro it
should bo carried into effect with all convenient dispatch.
10. In caso the officer at Bushiro should bo converted into an Assistant to the Envoy
in Persia, 6omo discretion should bo allowed to him in respect to tho supervision of tho offairs
of the Gulf, and to tho communications into which he may have occasion to enter with the
Persian authorities in tho vicinity, under such general instructions as he may receive from his
superior at the Court of Persia. I-or instance in tho ca6c of an act of piracy, like that already
mentioned, which was committed by the Sheikh of Bahrein on the Morbut vessel in 1829, it.
should be competent to him without a previous reference to '1 ehran to protest at once, os
Major VV ilson did against the act, to detain tho cruisers on their ninthly visit to tho Gulf,
nnd to demand and obtain a restitution of the property by the adoption of measures similar to
those which wore in that instance success fully resorted to; and all this wi'hout committing
the Government to any particular course, in regard to subsequent measures for obtaining
such redress as could not bo accomplished by amicable remonstrance.
17. In thus recommending that a certain discretion should bo given to the Assistant at
Busliire of acting without previous reference to his superior ai Tehran, it is not our intention
that he should consider himself at liberty to enter into correspondence or have direct communi­
cation with tho Prince at Shiraz or any other Pen-iau authority on matters unconnected with
piracy in the Gulf, or with cases affecting the immediate security of the lives or property of
British subjects. Even in suoh cases as well as in his communications wiih the Arab Chiefs
under his supervision, the Assistant should immediately report bis proceedings to bis superior
at Tehran, transmitting at the same time, if it wcio a case of urgency, a copy of his dispatch
to the Envoy to the Governor-General in Council, through the channel of your Government
which would then have an opportunity if the occasion wore too urgent for the delay of a
reference to tho Governor-General in Council, of taking on your own responsibility immediate
measures, either by supplying the Assistant at Bushiro with such instructions as he might
require, and the Envoy in Persia had not authority to convey or by dispatching an adequate
force to tho Gulph.
18. The actual state of tho Pachalick of Bagdad and the peculiar complication of cir­
cumstances in which the relations of the various Powers conuectcd with that part of the world
are at this moment involved, put out of the question, as we thiuk, the idea of any change at
present in the system under which the Political Agency at Bussora is managed. We desire,
however, that the contemplated measure of uniting the two Agenoies, and bringing the entire
business of the Gulf under one management, may not he lost right of, hut carried into effect
as soon as a change of circumstances may render that arrangement expedient.
19. From the view which we thus take of the duties of a British Agency in the Gulf,
and of the best mode of providing for the discharge of them, you will anticipate tho conclusion
wo have come to on the project which for sometime has been entertained by your Government,
of obtaining the cession of an island in the Gulf on which to station the British Residency.
20. In December 1827 the Resident in the Persian Gulf, Major Wilson, was instructed
to visit the several stations in tho Gulf, which might be deemed suitable for establishing
tho Residency in case of its removal from Bushiro. Major \1 ilson performed this
duty, and pointed out the Island of Kharrack, at a 6mall distance from Bushire,
as the most eligible situation. And Sir John Malcolm in his Minute already referred
to. dated Depooree 15th September 1828, expresses a strong opinion of the advantage !
which would attend an arrangemout with tho Persian Qoverumeut for transferring the
Residency to that station.
21. The Supreme Government noticed this Minute of your Resident in their letter to
your Government, dated 29th November 1828,
Paragraph 131.
in their words “ with advertence to the state
of affairs in Persia, contemplated by Sir Johu Malcolm, His Lordship in Council concurs
in opinion that it might be an object of great oonsequence to possess an insulur
position, and safe harbour for our Marine. Previously, however, to instructing the Envoy
to Persia to endeavour to obtain the grant of Karrack, the Governor-General in Council is
desirous of being furnished with a comparative statement of the expense of the present
establishment of tho Resideucies at Bushiro and Bu6sorah and an estimate of every
expense attending the acquisition of an island in sovereignty in the Persian Gulf, including
of course charges for buildings, maintenance of troops and other establishments.’*
22. We observe that the sole advantage recognized by the Supreme Government as
accruing from this acquisition is its accommodation with respect to the Marine; they do
uot seem to have contemplated any advantage of a diplomatic kind.