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in sight of one another, is such as to give a naval power, suitably established
on either coast, a command of the interior waters so absolute as to enable it to
dispense with stations further up the Gulf and to exercise a commanding
control over the movements of a power possessing any such bases. For this
purpose the anchorage at the eastern end of Kishm Island, which is formed
by the islands of Kishm, Larak and Hormuz, being enclosed between them
and the mainland, appeared to the Government of India to afford an almost
ideal position on the northern side.. On the opposite side the bays about the
Mussandim promontory, Khor Kavi, Kubbat Ghazira (Malcolm’s Inlet), and
Khor-ash Shem (Elphinstone Inlet) afford very good anchorages. The naval
Commander-in-Chief advocated establishing a lien as a coaling station on the
anchorage of Khor Kavi. At the same time if would be desirable to take
steps to prevent the occupation by Foreign powers of the two other Khors. These
harbours are not required by us, because there are superior positions elsewhere,
and because of their torrid and insupportable climate during summer. At the
same, time it would be undesirable that any Foreign flag should be planted on either
of them, or that any question save of British ownership should arise. To prevent
such a contingency, the Government of India recommended that in pursuance
of the permission received in Lord George Hamiltion’s Despatch No. 4 Secret,
dated 27th February 1903 (para. 197 above), the old Telegraph station on a small
island on the Elphinstone Inlet should be occupied by erecting a flag staff, and
also that flagstaffs should be planted on the Isthmus of Maklab, across which
the old cable passed, and on Sheep Island on Khor Kavi.
200. The Government of India further pointed out in their despatch the
desirability of placing a lighthouse on some suitable site at the extremity of the
peninsula, both in the interests of navigation, which is compelled to avoid the
neighbouring channels except by day-light, and in order still further to emphasise
our hold over the Mussandim harbours and islands. This light might be placed
either orr the rocky point of Cape Mussandim or one of the three islands, called
the Qugins, that are situated at a little distance from it in the open sea. The
Government of India believed that, for nautical purposes, the latter might be
slightly the superior position : but the political advantages of placing the light upon
a point of the Mussandim Peninsula were deserving of serious consideration, and
would probably incline them to select this locality. The matter was one upon
which they wished to consult the authorities interested. In the event of a light­
house being built, the Government of India thought that the cost might properly
be charged to Indian revenues.
201. The proposal of the Government of India about erecting flagstaffs on the
places mentioned was approved of by
Secret 8., March 1905, Nos. 707-794 (No. 709).
His Majesty’s Government, on the under­
standing that care would betaken to erect them in the manner best calculated
to avoid arousing undue attention (Secretary of State’s telegram dated 24th
August 1904). The Sphinx left on November 1 Sth with Lieutenant Shakespear
and returned on 24th, having erected flagstaffs on the positions in question.
No hitch occurred whatever (Major Grey’s telegram dated 24th November 1904).
But the action was found open to the objection that it would not confer
upon us any special rights in the places
Secret E., Augu*t 190S, No». 388-307.
selected, unless it were accompanied
by a specific proclamation of protectorate or annexation. On the other hand an
open assertion of our claims to these places might excite the jealousy of other
powers and gave rise to political complications. Moreover it was clear as a result
of enquiries made by Mr. Lorimer (see his note dated 22nd March 1905), that
we ?0UJ? not» consistently with historical or actual facts and rights, ignore the fact
of the Sultan of Maskal’s sovereignty over Mussandim.
,. ^ re8ard 1° these considerations and in view of the grounds upon
u IC•e Government protested against the cession of Bunder Gisseh,
Her Majesty’s Government preferred to rely on the declaration made by Lord
.thee*“b,i|>"»ontof a n«vai Lansdowne on sth May 1903, and remove
the flagstaffs from Sheep Island and the
3?, ,bo?'r wiih >n Maklab isthmus, and maintain the flagstaff
on Telegraph Island as a sign of the