Page 26 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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stances, they recommended that no action should
ho taken beyond merely leaving the flags tuff on
Telegraph Island where it was. No decision has
yet boon arrived at on this recommendation.
Tho flagstufls on Sheep Island and Mnklab
Isthmus were actually removed in October 1005.
In October 1007 an Inter-Departmental Com­
mittee, consisting of three delegates from the
Admiralty and representatives of tho foreign
Office and India Office, was convened to report
on tho feasibility of tho Germans securing an
outlet for tho Bagdad Hail way on the Persian
Gulf independently of British co-operation.
The Committoo formed the opinion that such a
consummation was feasible, and they concluded
their Report in the following terms:—
" We do not, however, feel confident Unit we possess the
menus absolutely to debar (icrnniuy from acquiring an
nutlet on tho Gull; uud this outlet, though ut first com­
mercial, might eventually ho transformed into a strategic,
base, hut by steps so gradual and clandestine ns to render
protests difficult or impracticable. In these circumstances
wc cannot hut express the opinion tliut it is in the highest
degree desirable to come to tonus with the promoters of
the Hallway.
" Finally, we would advocate that all steps which Ilis
Majesty’s Government may consider feasible should be
taken to consolidate the advantages wc already jnissess at
the entrance to tho Persian Gulf, notably at Musundiui
Peninsula (where the harbour accommodation and water
supply arc adequate) aud at the Islands of Ki.shm and
Hen jam."

The Admiralty stated, in a letter dated the
9tli November, 1907, that “ their Lordships con­
cur in the Report of the Committee, and they
consider that, from a naval standpoint, it is most
desirable that effect should be given at once to
the Committee’s particular recommendations re­
lating to the steps to be taken by liis Majesty’s
Government in the establishment of a definite
position .... at the entrauce to the Persian
Gulf.”
The Government of India suggested in their
despatch of the 21st January, 1904, that it might
be found desirable to erect a lighthouse on
Musamlim Peninsula.
Further correspondence on the subject took
place in tho course of the year, and was for­
warded to the Foreign Office in the India Office
letter of the 29th September, 190i. It appeared
that the Government of India were of opinion