Page 272 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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17. You will make such arrangements for the disposition of the squadron, changing the
stations of the ships, including those employed in the Persian Gulf, as may appear to you
to be best calculated to preserve the health and efficiency of the crews, and you arc in all
cases to endeavour to keep the local authorities informed of any orders which you may give
for the removal of any vessel (especially those in the Persian Gulf) for sanitary reasons or
otherwise.
19. The Duke of Argyll agreed to the terms proposed and approved of
the draft instructions above quoted, but suggested that the arrangement might
be considered temporary and provisional (Despatch to the Admiralty dated
36th August 1869.)
(iii) Instructions for the guidance of Officers Commanding Her Majesty’s Ships
employed on special service in the Persian Gulf.

so. In May 1871 Captain E. F. Ladders, Commander of Her Majesty’s
Bullfinch, informed Colonel Pelly that
Political A, August 1871, Nos. 51-64.
he had been sent to assist in the duties
hitherto performed by the vessels belonging to the Indian Government and for­
warded the following instructions received from his Commander-in-Chief
Dated on board the Forte at Bombay, nth April 1871.
Instructions by JAMES HORSFORD Cockburn, Esq., Rear-Admiral of Her Majesty*s Fleet,
ami Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's Ships ami Vessels employed, and to be
employed, on the East India Station, to be observed by Officers Commanding Her
Majesty's Ships employed on special service in the Persian Gulf.
The vessels employed on this service are to maintain the police of the waters of the
Persian Gulf, and to prevent the Arab Chiefs of the Coast from rendering the trade and
navigation insecure by their piratical expeditions. These Chiefs are bound by Treaty not
to engage in hostilities at sea.
All expeditions for this purpose are to be restrained by Her Majesty’s gun-vessels,
and the Chiefs are not to be allowed to engage in the slave trade.
2. As difficulties are apt to arise suddenly, requiring prompt action for the mainte-.
nance of order in these waters, you are to consider yourself at the disposal of the British
Resident or Political Agent for the support of British authority.
3. The Resident or other local authority being well acquainted with the habits of the
people, and well qualified to judge as to the course to be pursued in dealing with the
Native Princes and people, Commanding Officers will understand that they are not to
adopt any aggressive measures without the sanction of such authority.
4. Commanding Officers will be themselves responsible if they undertake any hostile
operation without reasonable prospect of success, or w hen the lives of the men under
their orders might be unduly exposed to danger.
5. The general rule for the guidance of Her Majesty’s Naval officers on this station
as on all others is that acts of hostility are not to be engaged in without the authority of
the Commander-in-Cbief, but it is obvious that this ^rule cannot apply to the vessels
employed, under the circumstances above explained, in the Persian Gulf.
Native Princes and people with whom Naval officers may have to communicate are
to be treated with courtesy and consideration.
By Command of the Commander-in.Chief.
(Sd.) E. HARRIS,
Secretary.

21. It will be noted that the main objects of employing Royal Navy
vessels in the Gulf are indicated on the above instructions to be (1) policing the
waters of the Gulf and restraining piracies and hostilities by sea by the Arab
Chiefs and (2) preventing the Chiefs from engaging in slave trade.

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