Page 78 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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fairly extend to the British ' sphere’ of inlluonco;
but, in Sir E. Grey’s opinion, there is no reason
to bolievo that they would provo insurmountable
if on mature consideration the enterprise should
bo deemed advantageous.
“ Sir E. Grey is of opinion that the whole
question should ho submitted to I ho Committee
of Imperial Defence, in order thut His Majesty’s
Government may be in a position to decide upon
a definite line of policy...............
“The subject of British participation in the
Bagdad It ail way may possibly be raised on the
occasion of the approaching visit of tin; German
Emporor to this country; and, both on this
account and for the reasons already explained, it
is desirable that a decision on the questions
raised should not be unduly delayed."

(i.) Bassidu.
Bassidu is situated at the western extremity
of Kishm Island, which lies parallel to the
Persian Coast, from which it is separated by
Clarence Strait.
It has a good anchorage, for vessels of moderate
draught, about a third of a mile ofl shoro. For
landing purposes there is a low stone pier, about
80 yards in length, extending to low-water mark.
It was once a flourishing Portuguese Settle­
ment, and the ruins of the old town are still in
existence.
The British occupation appears to have begun
in 1820, under a verbal grant from Sultan Syed
Saeed of Muscat, who then exercised juris­
diction over the island. This was confirmed by India Office,
March 20, 1899.
Agreement with his son and successor, Sultan
Thoweymee, in 1864. In spite of the fact that
Kishm had been taken in 1852 by Persia, and
leased in 1855 to Muscat, the Persian Government
took no exception to the British occupation of
Bassidu, either when they leased Kishm to
Muscat in 1845 [? 1855], when the lease was
renewed in 1868, or when it was forcibly
terminated in the latter year.
The Government of India, in their despatch
No 66 of the 2nd May, 1901, state
ffojz.__The India Office letters of the HOth October, 1901,
and the 7th January, 1902, deal with the limits of British
jurisdiction at Bassidu. The India Office letter of the
10th July, 1901, deals with British Government buildings.
The Admiralty letter of the 21st March, 1902, incloses a
report on the Islands of Kishm and Hormur.