Page 270 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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carrying out his idea, but if he could not do so he might offer the services of a
naval officer, who should proceed to Tehran and advise the Persian Government
as to the cost and other details of the construction of vessels. Persia was to pay
for this officer’s journey and give him a daily allowance of Rs. 35. The Shah
declined this offer.
15. In 1869 one of the Maskat Sultan’s rivals plundered Bunder Abbas,
Political A., January i8;o, Nos. M7 S4* sacked the Government House and then got
Jrocret I., 1670, Nos. 330 34* away by sea. This event naturally increased
the Shah’s desire for a navy, and the Minister at Tehran reported that the
Persian Government wished to obtain vessels of war from France, one of the
objects being the recovery of Bahrein. Much as Government objected to the
establishment of a Persian Navy in the Gulf, it was thought less desirable that
this Navy should be established by another European power, and it was resolved,
if necessary, to give the Shah one ship, but he appears to have abandoned the
idea.*
(ii) Arrangements for a naval force for the Gulf.
16. The arrangements finally made by the Home Government are shown in
the correspondence received with the Duke
Political A., January 1870, Nos. I47"54*
of Argyll’s despatch No. 235, dated 31st
August 1869.
17. It appears that the Secretary of State for India had assented to a
proposal that a capitation grant of £ io per man should be paid yearly out of the
Indian funds, on account of six of Her Majesty’s vessels to be employed in
Indian waters in general, three of which would be detailed for constant and
exclusive service in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters, to be under the
immediate control of the Government of India, the other three also being at their
disposal whenever, and so far as, the requirements of the Imperial service would per­
mit. But as the payment of a capitation rate for a variable number of men would
involve the keeping of elaborate accounts between the India Office and the
Admiralty, and entail much clerical labour, the Admiralty proposed that a fixed
sum of £70,000 should be paid yearly out of Indian funds for the above service
from date to be named hereafter, it being understood that no larger sum was at
any time to be chargeable against the Indian Government without the previous
assent of the Secretary of State for India in Council, and that the Admiralty
would bear the whole expense off the wear and tear of the hulls, rigging,
machinery, and stores of the ships.
Should any doubt at any time arise on the part of the Indian Government
as to the stipulated number of six vessls having been maintained as agreed upon,
the Admiralty would consider themselves bound to establish the fact, and a pro­
portionate reduction of the contribution would be made if the number of ships
should not have been kept up.
It was understood that the Indian Government would defray all expenses
which might be incurred on shore by the officers and men of Her Majesty's
ships whilst they might be employed on any service, in compliance with requisi­
tions from the India Office.
With regard to the repair and maintenance of Her Majesty’s ships to be
employed in Indian waters, it was to be understood that the free use of the
dockyard at Bombay should be given to all Her Majesty’s ships on the station,
that the Indian Government should pay the expense of labour incurred and
materials supplied at that dockyard with regard to the three vessels to be
employed exclusively in the Persian Gulf and waters adjacent, and that the said
three vessels should always be supplied with coal at the cost of the Indian
Government.
18. A copy of the instructions which the Admiralty proposed to address to
the Senior Officer of Her Majesty's Ships on the East India Station, relative to
•Th« idea was revived in 1883, when Murteza Khan, son of the Minister MuUber-ed-Dowleh, was sent to Europw
to purchase a gun-bont and two small steamers. arraӣf.
, S«rft E., Jbbc lit], No*. 161*167 and.coontcr.nsrk*. for the construction by a German firm of 0 Run boat .
and a steamer (Susa). For description of Ptrstpolit see Curzon's Persia, volume II, pages 394*95> On PB8° 35° 0
tbs utae volume will be found description of the Susa.