Page 364 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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CHAPTER V.
Lord Curzon’s Tour in the Persian Gulf, November—December 1903.
162. One of the most important events in the history of the Persian
Gulf during the last seven years has been
Secret E., February 1904, Nos. 33'*°7- the tour of Lord Curzon in those waters
in November-December 1903. The pur-
pose of the tour, as described in His Excellency the Viceroy’s despatch
No. 148, Secret—External, dated the 17th
ZM.N0.4a. September 1903, was (1) to inspect the
establishments that are maintained in those parts, (2) to visit the Arab Sheikhs
who are in treaty relation with the British Government and to testify to the
paramount politcal and commercial ascendancy that is exercised by Great
Britain in those waters.
163. Mr. Brodrick in conveying the formal sanction of His Majesty's Gov­
ernment to the proposed tour, observed
ibid, No. 11 . that they had no doubt that the Viceroy’s
visit to the Persian Gulf was calculated to strengthen British interests in that
quarter, at the same time attention was drawn to the disadvantages which might
result from any impression that it indicated an intention on the part of the British
Government to alter the status quo in the Gulf and at Maskat, as defined by
international engagements, although His Excellency had assured the Secretary of
State that in no part of the journey would any but conventional declarations or
assurances be required. His Excellency was warned that his position both at
Maskat and Koweit would be one of special difficulty (despatch No. 34, Secret,
dated the 6th November 1903).
164. An account of the tour is given in Lord Curzon’s despatch to the
Secretary of State, No. 156, dated 17th
Ibid, No. 119.
December 1903, which is summarized
below. The tour answered not only its original objects, but enabled the Viceroy
to carry out a separate and perhaps even a more important task. Accompanied
as His Excellency was by Rear-Admiral G. Atkinson Willes and the vessels of
the East Indian squadron, he was enabled, in conjunction with the Admiral
to make a close study on the spot of the question of naval ports, bases,
coaling stations, telegraph station and anchorages in the Persian Gulf, which had
been so much under official discussion in recent years, and to arrive at conclusions
which were separately reported to the Secretary of State (see Chapter VI).
Simultaneously the presence of Sir Arthur Hardinge, His Majesty’s Minister at
Tehran, who joined the Viceroy at Maskat and accompanied him through the
greater part of the cruise, afforded him the opportunity of discussing many matters
of importance concerning our policy and position in Persia and arriving at an
understanding on several disputed points.
165. Arriving at Karachi on 16th November 1903, the Viceroy left the same
day for Maskat on the R. I. M. Hardinge escorted by H. M. S. S. Hyacinth,
flagship of Rear-Admiral Atkinson ’Willes and H. M. S. S. Fox, Pomone and
Argonaut, and arrived at Maskat on the 18th November. The proceedings at
Maskat are described on the Maskat Precis (1892-1905).
166. After leaving Maskat Lord Curzon spent a whole day in making, in
company with the Naval Commanders-in-Chief, a most careful inspection of all
the inlets and harbours on both the Eastern and Western coasts of the rocky
and deeply indented promontory, Ras Mussandim.
167. The next place visited was Shargah, where the Viceroy with the
escorting squadron arrived on 21st November. An account of the proceedings
is given in the Trucial Chiefs' Prdcis, 1854*1905,
168. Lord Curzon then sailed across to Bandar Abbas, which was reached
on 22nd November. Here His Excellency was met officially by Sir A. Hardinge
and was received on behalf of the Shah by His Excellency the Salar-i-Moazzam,
Governor of Gulf Ports. The Ala-ud-Dowleh, Governor-General of Fars, was