Page 81 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

75
these people wore in tho habit of migrating, and
the sole inhabitants remaining were three men
whose duty was to tend tho date trees belonging
to Sheikh Salem, the uncle of the Sheikh of
8hargah.
Tho Jowasmis did not fly a flag on the island,
and Colonel Kemball submitted that it might be
well to advise the Shoikh of Shargah to do so as
a sign of ownership.
This course was approved by the Government
of India, and on the 30th April, 1003, Colonel
Kemball reported that tho Sheikh had issued
orders accordingly.
The Government of India at tho same time
instructed the Resident to furnish his observa­
tions on the expediency of advising the Sheikh
of Ras-cl-Khcimah to adopt a similar course in
regard to the Island of Tamb, which apparently
belonged to that section of the Jowasmis.
Foreign Office (In 18S8, on the occupation of Sirri, tho
Memorandum of
July 30, 1903. Sheikh of Shargah had urged that the Persians
should be prevented from pursuing a similar
course ait Tamb.)
Colonel Kemball replied that the Peisiau
Government had never asserted sovereignty over
the island; that the Sheikh of Shargah, in his
existing capacity as Ituler of lias-ol-Khcinnh,
claimed it as an appanage of the Jowasmis of
the Arab Coast., urging that it was visited by hia
subjects on account of tho good water supply
and for purposes of grazing; that the Sheikh
was iu possession of documentary evidence, iu
Inclosure in the shape of three letters from two Arab Sheikhs
Colonel Rom to
Tcliran of of Lingali, admitting the claim of the Jowasmis
Auguut 19, 1888 of tho Arab Coast jus against that of tho Jowasmis
(see Government
of India Pro­ of Lingah; and, finally, that in one of these
ceedings letters, written in 1877, tho Sheikh of Lingah
September 1888).
had conceded that the Persians had no property
there, nor any right of interference, save \fith
tho consent of the Chief of Ras-el-Khcimah.
The Government of India hereupon directed
that the Chief of Shargah should be advised, as
in tho case of Abu Musa, to hoist his flag on the
Island of Tamb.
India Office, In April 1901 tho Viceroy of India telegraphed’
April 14, 1904.
that the llelgian officials iu charge of the Persian
Customs had placed guards on Abu Musa and
Tamb, forcibly removed the Arab flags, creeled
new flagstalfs, and hoisted the Persian flag in
both islands.
Indiu Office. The Sheikh of Shargah, on hearing of this
May 4, 1901
[1098] X