Page 388 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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interests of the naval squadron which is maintained in the Persian Gulf by His
Majesty’s Government, and also on political grounds, which are divided in even
proportions between the Imperial Government and the Government of India.
223. Mis Majesty’s Government approved of this proposal, and in his telegram,
dated 8th March 1904, the Secretary-
fh’d, No. 3.14-
of State informed the Viceroy that Sir A.
Hardinge proposed in the first instance to inform the Persian Government of
our intention to re-establish Henjarn station and to ask for permission to extend
the cable to Bandar Abbas.
224. On the 17th March 1904 Sir A. Hardinge wired :—
• The Prime Minister whom I sounded about Bandar Abbas line, without mentioning
Henjarn, said he would gladly discuss thequestion. I shall send in my note in a few day’s
time, letting Viceroy know exactly when 1 do so. Ship should meanwhile be ready, at a
moment's notice to start.'
225. Some difficulty was experienced in getting up material for cable and for
shipping it in time to Henjarn. It was therefore proposed by the Director of Gulf
Telegraphs Department to land the present cable on the southern or south-eastern
coast ot the island of Henjarn, but the Viceroy insisted that the Henjarn connection
should be made forthwith and not on the southern or south-eastern coast
because we had only right to the old site given us by the Persian Government on
the north. This accordingly must be re-occupied and connection established
with it without further delay (Telegram to Mr. Whitby Smith, dated 1st April).
226. A party accordingly sailed from Karachi in the Patrick Stewart on 9th
April with the necessary materials and
Secret E., June 1904. No. 3co 3S8 (No. 353-)
established cable communication with
Henjarn on the old site on 19th April 1904.
227. Sir A. Hardinge sent on 30th March, a copy of a note which he
was addressing the Mushir-ed-Dewlah, in
Secret E., Decomber 1904, N03. I-3<J.
which he informed him that the Govern­
ment of India had been sensible for some time past, especially now that a Bri­
tish Consul resides at Bandar Abbas, of the desirability of opening telegraphic com­
munication between that port and Bushirc urged by the British Indian residents
of the place in their address to the Viceroy during his visit there, and they had
accordingly instructed him to enter into negotiations with the Persian Govern­
ment with a view to an extension of the present submarine cable from Henjarn
to Bandar Abbas ; and that in the meanwhile pending of the conclusion of the
arrangements for this purpose, the Government of India had decided to land the
cable and re-open the Indo-European Telegraph Department station on the
island of Henjarn, which had existed from 1869 to 1881 and was abandoned in
the latter year.
228. In reply to this note Mushir-ed-Dowlah stated that the Shah would
construct the line himself, but that the work would not be done immediately, which
is a Persian way of saying never, and that in the meanwhile a postal service
between the two places would be organized. Sir A. Hardinge politely pointed
out the absurdity of adopting this proposal which in the long run would be more
costly than a telegraph line. He also proposed to the Government of India
the lines on which an agreement would be made with the Shah's Government
for the construction of the proposed line (Telegram, dated 26th May 1904, to
the Government of India.)
229. In their telegram dated 15th June 1904, to the Secretary of State, the
Government of India urged that the Indo-European Telegraph Department
should construct and work it as integral parts of their system, the cable and
office at Bunder Abbas. This line might, if necessary, be substituted for the
line which we are entitled to make from Jask towards Bandar Abbas under the
convention of 2nd April 1S68 ; the Shah could hardly object as the result might
be the construction of a land line from Jask to the Consulate, and a cable from
thence to Henjarn is apparently contemplated by the convention. It was under­
stood that the employes would be appointed by the Indo-European Telegraph
Dapartment, except at Bandar Abbas.
230. With reference to this telegram, Lord Lansdowne wired to Sir A.
Hardinge on 8th July 1904, that Her Majesty’s Government saw strong objections
to imperilling the efficiency of the service by placing the office at Bandar Abbas
under the control of the Persians.