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331. In July 1904, a report was received at Tehran from the Governor of
the Persian Gulf Ports that our telegraph
Secret K., December 190^, Nos. 1-36 (Nos. 11-14). people at Hen jam had removed the Persian
flag and hoisted the British flag. In tele­
graphing about this report to the Resident, Sir A. Hardinge observed that there
was evidently some misapprehension on the matter, but if the Persian flag had
been removed for building purposes, it should be rehoisted elsewhere. He had
no recollection of seeing the British flag on any inland telegraph station, and
he wished that it should not be hoisted at Henjam, unless it was customary to
do so at telegraph stations in other parts of the Gulf.
232. On enquiries being made, it was found that the report was most un­
founded. The old Persian flagstaff was still
Ibid, No. 11.
standing on our plinth and no British flag
had been hoisted. All our telegraph stations at Bushire, Gwadur and Jask have
regular official flagstaffs with signalling vards and are entitled to fly a flag. The
same prescribed rights would presumably be assumed in the case of Henjam,
but nothing had hitherto been done or suggested in that direction (Major Cox
to Sir A Hardinge dated 1st July 1904).
233. On 2nd July 1904, Sir A. Hardinge forwarded to the Mushir-ed-Dowlah
translation of a telegram he had teceived from the Resident at Bushire and
observed:—
I understand that there has never been a Persian flag on Henjam, but only a pole
on a plinth over the British station which was erected some years ago by the Malik-ut-
Tujjar after an unsuccessful attempt to raise it on the south coast of the island. The erection
of this flag and pole was resisted at the time by the local Arabs on the ground that Henjam
belongs to the Shaikh of Da bat, one of the six Arab Chiefs on the south coast of the
Persian Gulf, who are under the protection of the Government of India. There is no
intention on the fart oj the Government of India to support any such claim on the part
of the Shaikh of Dab at or to repudiate the authority of the Persian Government over
Henjam. Should it, therefore, as probably will be the case, be necessary to remove the
pole in order to complete the building, such removal need in no way be regarded as having
any political significance, more especially as it would not be the flag, but merely a flagless
pole, which would betaken away for necessary building purposes, and which could, if
indeed, be reerected elsewhere.
Should a flag be eventually flown at Henjam, it will be similar to those which have
been flown for many yean past with the consent of the Persian Government at other
telegraph stations on the coast, such as Jask, Gwadur and Bushire, and which, I may
mention parenthetically, arc necessary for signalling purposes, and cannot be regarded
as having a political object, I trust that these explanations may prove satisfactory to
Your Excellency. I need scarcely add that His Britannic Majesty’s Government has never
denied the sovereignty of Persia over Henjam, as is shown by the fact that our occupation is
derived by the concession granted to us by His Majesty the late Shah.
(iii) Extension of the line to Bandar Abbas.
234. On 26th March 1905, Sir A. Hardinge telegraphed to us that the Persian
Government had officially notified its
Secret E., June 1905, Nos. 759*776 (No. 760.)
willingness to construct the Henjam Bandar
Abbas line via Kishm with English Engineers and materials and to employ no
foreigners in it, and that Mushir-ed-Dowlah was ready to sign an agreement
defining conditions of employment of our engineers.
235. The following is the agreement
Ibid, N01. 771*773 and Secret E., Auguit 1905,
Nos.416.417. that was finally signed on 13th May
1905:—
AGREEMENT.
His Excellency the Mashir-ed-Dowlch, Minister for Foreign Affairs of His Imperial
Eucloiur. Pro. No. 416. lh«Sha!1 °f Persia and Sir Arthur
Haidiage, K. C. B., His Britannic Majesty s
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Tehran, representing the Indo-
European Telegraph Department of the Government of India, on the other part, duly
authorised thereto by their respective Governments have concluded the following agreement.
1. The Persian Government having resolved to construct a line of telegraph to con­
nect the Indo-European Telegraph Station at Henjam with Bunder Abbas across Kishm
and His Majesty s Government having authorised the Indo-European Telegraph Depart­
ment to provide the Engineers and materials necessary for the construction, it is agreed
that two European engineers with the necessary employes and labourers shall be
temporarily placed by the Department for the purpose at the disposal of the* Persian
Government, and that the telegraph ship belonging to the Department shall, as soon as
the season permits, lay the two submarine ends between Henjam and Bunder Abbas,
respective!)', and after completing the work they shall return.