Page 394 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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350. Sir Arlhur Hardinge informed Major Cox on the 28th June, in reply to
the latter's representations regarding the evident purpose of the Persian Govern­
ment to surround the telegraph office on Henjam with Persian buildings, that,
generally speaking, he believed the course most advantageous to the interests of
our station on Henjam, would be to endeavour to settle all questions, as far as
possible on the spot, in a spirit of friendliness and co-operation with the
Persian authorities.
251. In the meantime, the Superintendent of the Telegraph Station on Henjam
telegraphed on the 20th August that the Customs Mirza on Henjam was taking
advantage of the fact that he and his men were practically in sanctuary in our
Telegraph precincts (which the Arabs have some fear of violating) to behave
in a truculent manner towards the natives.
252. Major Cox forwarded a copy of this telegram to the Government of India
on the 20th August, and explained that His Majesty’s Minister at Tehran did
not in his instructions (para. 250 above) appear to differentiate at all between
British telegraph station on Henjam and the rest of that island.
253. On the 8th September, Major Cox telegraphed that, according to a
report from the Telegraph Superintendent, a Customs contractor had arrived at
Henjam with workmen and building material, and had marked out and enclosed
building site in the vicinity of the telegraph office. The Director, Persian Gulf
Telegraphs, objected to the proximity of the proposed building to our own
office, as being unnecessary, insanitary, and as likely to interfere with signalling
operations.
254. On the 27th September 1905, the Government of India telegraphed to
Mr. Grant Duff (Sir Arthur Hardinge having left Tehran) that the situation on
Henjam, which was both undignified and inconvenient, did not seem to admit of
local settlement on the basis of allowing the erection of Persian buildings and
flag staffs in close and undesirable proximity to the British telegraph buildings
The main object of our resumption of former rights would thereby be nullified. An
agreement should be concluded with the Persian Government defining the area of
the British telegraph station in the same manner as in the agreement concluded
in 1887 in regard to the area of the telegraph station at Jask. and within these
limits no Persian buildings or flagstaffs should, of course, be erected. Outside
they might be erected in any numbers, or anywhere. In return for such an
agreement conceding a reasonable area of ground, we should be willing to convey
to the Arabs our formal recognition of Persian sovereignty over Henjam, to use
our influence to tranquillise the Arabs, and to abstain from sending a military
guard to the island, unless Persia did the same. If the agreement proposed
above were declined, we might say that the despatch of a guard was necessary
for the protection of our telegraph station, and that the requirements of the signal­
ling station necessitated the removal of all other flagstaffs from its vicinity.
Mr. Grant Duff was asked whether an arrangement on these lines would be fea­
sible, and it was suggested that further reason for requesting the removal of the
Persian flagstaffs might be found in the needs of our signalling station. The re­
sult of the arrangement suggested would be a British enclave on a Persian island.
255. On the 28th September, Mr. Grant Duff telegraphed that he was confi­
dent the Persian Government would oppose the establishment of a British enclave
on Henjam, as proposed in the Government of India telegram of the 27th
September. Our best policy at present, he considered, was that recommended
by Sir A. Hardinge. He added that the Persian Government might con­
sent to an arrangement on the lines suggested, if His Majesty’s Government
were prepared to threaten the despatch of an Indian guard to Henjam. In
conclusion, he invited a reference to the Home Government.
2^6. On the 28th September, Major Cox telegraphed to Tehran that, pending
the result of Mr. Grant Duff's action on the Government of India telegram of the
27th September, it would be convenient if he could prevail on the Central
Government to give orders for the suspension of the building work now
beginning, as it was close to our telegraph building, and objected to by the
Director of Telegraphs on departmental and sanitary grounds. Mr. Grant Puff
has addressed a note to the Persian Government in the sense of this telegram.