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of the Sultan of Maskat on the one hand, and the Persian Government oh tho other. The
Government of India of that day, however, held that the claims of the Shah must prevail,
I
and that his consent must be sought. The necessary permission to occupy (he island was
duly accorded in the marginally noted Minute of the Persian Government, a copy of which
appears to have been communicated to Cord Stanley by Sir Charles Alison, then Minister
at Tehran, in his letter No. 42, dated the 31st March 18G8. Our abandonment of the
station does not seem to have formed the subject of any formal communication to the
Persian Government, and the authority granted has, so far as we arc aware, never been
cancelled or withdrawn. We consider, therefore, that the permission still holds good
and would require no express renewal; and we would propose merely to communicate
to the Persian Government, through the Indo-Tclcgraph Department, our intention to
land the cable again for purposes of telegraphic convenience at Henjam and to re-open
our former station there. It might at the same time be pointed out to the Persian Gov­
ernment that the proposal is one that will benefit them no less than ourselves, by linking
up one of their most important Gulf ports with the system of electric telegraph which has
already lent so great support to the Shah's authority in outlying parts of his dominions.
If, however, objections should be raised at Tehran, it might be pointed out that, in the
event of obstacles being placed in the way of our re-occupation of llenjam, we shall merely
aubstilute a station at Bassidore, where we have land of our own, in which case Persia
would lose the advantage of connection with Bandar Abbas.
5. As regards the incidence of the cost of the proposal, we may point out that telegraphic
connection with Maskat has now been effected at the sole charge of the Indian Gov­
ernment, and we feel sanguine, therefore, that His Majesty's Government will not object
to bear half the cost of the present project, the advantages of which are no less Imperial
than Indian. From reports received from our Resident in the Persian Gulf we learn that
the Russian Consul-General at Bushire, in company with the Persian Passport Officer
of the Gulf Ports, has made recent excursions to the islands of Larak, Ormuz and Kishm.
What may be the object of these visits we do not know, but we think it very desirable
that no time should be lost in taking advantage of the superior position which tho facts
that we have narrated give us on the island of Kishm, and we are forwarding a copy of
this despatch direct to His Britannic Majesty’s Minister at Tehran, in order that Sir
Arthur Hardinge may be in a position to place his views on the subject before His
Majesty's Government at the earliest possible date. A copy is also being furnished to
His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station with a similar
object.
216. With reference to the above despatch, Sir A. Hardinge telegraphed to
the Government of India on 26th June, that
Secret E., Juno 1904, Nos. 300-388 (No. 300).
it would be simpler simultaneously with the
opening of the station at Henjam to announce to the Persian Government that
difficulties of communication with our Consulate at Bandar Abbas had led us to
avail ourselves once more of the Shah*s permission which was given us in 1868,
there being, we hoped, no doubt that the Persian Government would authorize a
further extension of the line for 50 miles from Henjam to Bandar Abbas itself.
The Persians, Sir A. Hardinge thought, would not dispute our right once we con­
fronted them with an accomplished fact; but if we notified our intention before­
hand, they might create difficulties, as their suspicion would certainly be aroused.
The chief of the Indo-European Department thought that, unless there was
urgent reason for immediate action, the re-opening of the station had better be
deferred till September at the earliest on account of the heat.
Sir A. Hardinge’s telegram was followed by a despatch to the Government
of India, dated 27th June, sending his
Secret E., June 1904, N01. 300-388.
despatch dated 26th June, to the Foreign
Office, explanatory of the telegram.
217. On 4th August 1903 the Viceroy
Ibid, No. 306.
telegraphed as follows to the Secretary of
State s—
Please refer to our despatch, dated 7th May. Admiral Drury has informed us that
Commanders Sommerville and Kemp regird Henjam as bad anchorage and as unsuitable
for defended establishment. They consider Clarence Straits best naval station at east
end of Gulf. In these circumstances Bassidore might be preferable to Henjam as site for
telegraph station, cable running thence via Clarence Straits to Bandar Abbas. This would
also minimise Persian objections anticipated in Hardinge's despatch of 27th June,. since
our rights do as we please at Bassidore are in contestable. Sanction to land at Henjam or
at Bassidore, as preferred by Admiralty, might be communicated, in the event of our views
as to the necessity for a cable station being approved.