Page 395 - Gulf Precis(VIII)_Neat

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357. On the nth October, the Government of India telegraphed to the Sec­
retary of State, pointing out that a memorandum, dated 22nd August 1905, clearly
demonstrated the objections to permitting further encroachments on our station.
Hope was expressed that Mr. Grant Duff would be authorized to effect a settle­
ment on the lines indicated in our telegram dated 27th September to him, using,
if necessary, the threat, which he believed would be effective, of despatching a
guard to the island.
258. Captain Trevor (Assistant Political Resident, Bushire), telegraphed on
the 5th November that M. Stas (Director of Customs at Bandar Abbas) visited
the island on the 28th October, and appeared to agree that the present site of the
proposed Persian building was unsuitable, and telegraphed to Tehran for
instructions. Since then building operations have been suspended. Captain
Trevor suggested that Messrs. Stas and Shakespeare (H. M.’s Consul at Bandar
Abbas) should be authorised to go together, and, if possible, fix upon a suitable
site. On the same date Captain Trevor forwarded a letter from Lieutenant
Shakespeare which gave an account of a private interview between himself and
the Sheikh of the Arabs on Henjam. The latter was evidently growing restless at
receiving no answer to his question as to whether he and his people were to be
under British protection or Persian subjects. Lieutenant Shakespeare informed
him that the matter was still under discussion, and counselled him to have
patience. He pointed out, however, that the temper of the Arabs was not by
any means the same as in February or April last. He anticipates an outbreak
of violence when the Arabs would be informed that they could hope for nothing from
the British Government, but considered that this risk would be minimised if
the.Persian Customs Mirza could be removed from his position in the close vicini­
ty of the Telegraph Office where the Arabs consider he was practically under
British protection.
258-A. Captain Trevor also forwarded a second letter on the 5th
November from Mr. R. Campbell, Officiating Director, Indo-European Telegraph
Department, Persian Gulf Section, in which he, too, dwelt upon the excitable
state of the Arabs on Henjam. He also stated his views in regard to
the encroachments of the Persian on the Telegraph area, and considered that they
might be permitted to erect a Telegraph Office, and if they so desired, a
Customs Office within the Telegraph area ; but that these buildings should be
erected at a considerable distance .Tom our Telegraph Office, and that, for sanitary
reasons, the Persian employes should be limited to a small number. But the
flagstaff which had been erected lo the east of the Telegraph Office should be
removed, as materially affecting efficient signalling when the station is made
a Lloyd's signalling station.
259. On the 9th November, the Secretary of State for India telegraphed,
in reply to the Government of India telegram of the 1 ith October, to the effect
that any arrangement which would tend to create British enclave on Henjam
would certainly be opposed by the Persian Government; and further that His
Majesty’s Government were of opinion that a show of force, even if effectual, would
be of doubtful expediency. They therefore considered that further efforts
should be made to settle the matter locally at Bushire, but added that, if the
amenities of the telegraph station on Henjam were seriously affected by Persian
encroachments, instructions to protest would be sent to His Majesty’s Charge
d*Affaires, Tehran. This telegram was repealed to Major Cox on the 1st
December for his guidance, and he was further informed that, if the amenities of
the telegraph station were seriously affected by Persian encroachments, he
would no doubt point it out.
259A. On the 26th November Major Cox reported to His Majesty’s
Chargd d’Affaires, Tehran, that although the Persian building operations
on Henjam had been suspended, the Customs authorities had now officially
intimated their intention to commence building the Imperial Customs house
forthwith and had selected for the purpose a site in our telegraph station. He
asked that the Persian Government should be again pressed to suspend all
building operations until the question had been settled between the two Govern­
ments.
a6o. With reference to the language stated to have been used by M. Stas at
Henjam, Mr. Grant Duff in a despatch, dated the 10th October, stated that M.
Naus had expressed a hope that the matter might be allowed to drop. It
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