Page 80 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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An Inter-Departmental Committcoof delegates
frpm tho Foreign Office, India Office, and
Admiralty, in submitting a report (dated October
1907) on tho terminus of the Bagdad Railway,
recommended incidentally that such steps as Ilis
Majesty’s Government might considor feasible
should bo taken to consolidate our position at the
entrance to the Persian Gulf, including Kislim.
It has been suggested that the ruined Establishment of a Metooro-
ljuildings at Bassidu should bo pulled down, and logical Station, a 8toros
a small meteorological station under a British- Depot, and Wireless Telo-
Indian subject established. A dcp6t for stores graphy.
for tho ships-of-war in tho Gulf might also bo
created, and it is worth considering whether a
wireless telegraphic apparatus should not bo
installed for convenience of communication.

(j.) The Islands of Abu Musa, Tamb, and Sirrx.

Abu Musa and Tamb.
In January 1903 Colonel Kcmball, the British
Resident in the Persian Gulf, reported that, in
consequence of the short-sighted policy of the
Belgian Customs officials, trade had to a large
oxtent been diverted from the Persian port of
Lingah, and local merchants were ondeavouiing
to arrange with the Bombay aud Persian Naviga­
tion Company to make tho Island of Abu Musa
a port of call, apparently for the purpose of
facilitating their pearl business.
Colonel Kemball was apprehensive lest such a
conjuncture should result in a territorial claim
to this island being advanced by the Persian
Government who, in 1888, had laid claim to aud
hoisted their flag on the adjacent Island of Sirri.
Incidentally it may be mentioned that, writing India UHkr,
on the 28th April, 1888, Colonel Ross, then July 1 '<U
British Resident, bad expressed a decided opinion
that no valid claim to Abu Musa could be
advanced by the Persian Government, while any
attempt to assert their authority in a practical
form would probably lead to disturbances.
Colonel Kemball stated that the island un­
doubtedly belonged to tho Jowasmi Sheikh of
Shargah (one of the Trucial Chiefs under British
protection). In the winter it was usually visited
by people from Klmu aud Shargah for purposes
ot fishing and grazing. In the pearling season