Page 46 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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island and His Majesty's ships would prove of
value, while the commercial adva.nta.gos of estab­
lishing telcgriphic intercourse with the outside
world aro apparent.
Writing in ll)Jt Sir X. O’Conor, who had Sir X. 0*c\m«»r,
been consulted in regard to the steps which were .nmols’ 1901.
in contemplation for improving the status and
position of the British Agent, replied that he had
felt strongly for some years past that we were
losing the opportunity of asserting our supremacy
at Bahrein, that he sincerely welcomed the pro­
posals of the Government of India, and that he
undertook that the Turkish Government should
raise no serious difficulties.
Sir Lewis Polly, writing in 1SG3, strongly
advocated the establishment of a free port under
British control in the Persian Gulf. lie wrote
ns follows: —
“ The ease of Hormuz is a precedent for a like
station ; the interferences, incertitude, and want
of accurate knowledge or the market all round
the Gulf point to the alleviation of these evils by
the creation of a general entrepbt at a convenient
point, where all vessels would, if they pleased tocali,
find cargo ready; whereto all boats lindinga favour­
able chance for exports from their several jurisdic­
tions could runacargo in a few days, and whereto all
trade might converge, as circumstances admitted,
from ports subjected to suddon, but not per­
manent, arbitrary interference.
“ My respectful suggestion to Government is,
that the formation of a port so concentrating all
our interests would do more to creato and to
develop the trade of the Gulf and Bussorah line,
and would do more to keep the Government
accurately iuformed as to their relations and the
condition of commerce in the Gulf, and would
further do more to keep the maritime Arabs
quiet, and to afford an issue for whatever capa­
bilities of trade may be possessed by Arabia, than
could all the reports, all the figured statements,
and all the amicable interviews of all the Resi­
dents and all the native authorities, that ever
had, or may have, plaeo round these waters.
“ But the port must be really free, aud all
tribes and people must know and feel it to bo
free; and that, once there, their goods and
persons arc secure and unmolested. Let the
authorities of the port limit their functions to
keeping the peace, removing obstacles, enforcing

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