'Memorandum respecting British interests in the Persian Gulf' [‎51v] (68/126)

74
An Inter-Departmental Committee of delegates
from the Foreign Office, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , and
Admiralty, in submitting a report (dated October
1907) on the terminus of the Bagdad Railway,
recommended incidentally that such steps as His
Majesty’s Government might consider feasible
should be taken to consolidate our position at the
entrance to the Persian Gult, including Kishm.
It has been suggested that the ruined
buildings at Bassidu should be pulled down, and
a small meteorological station under a British-
Indian subject established. A dep6t for stores
for the ships-of-war in the Gulf might also be
created, and it is worth considering whether a
wireless telegraphic apparatus should not be
installed for convenience of communication.
(j.) The Islands of Abu Musa, Tamb, and Sirri.
Abu Musa and Tamb.
In January 1903 Colonel Kemball, the British
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , reported that, in
consequence of the short-sighted policy of the
Belgian Customs officials, trade had to a large
extent been diverted from the Persian port of
Lingah, and local merchants were endeavouiing
to arrange with the Bombay and Persian Naviga
tion Company to make the 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 and
hoisted their flag on the adjacent Island of Sirri.
Incidentally it may be mentioned that, writing
on the 28th April, 1888, Colonel Ross, then
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 the Jowasmi Sheikh of
Shargah (one of the Trucial Chiefs under British
jn-otection). In the winter it was usually visited
by people from Khan and Shargah for purposes
ot fishing and grazing. In the pearling season
Establishment of a Meteoro
logical Station, a Stores
Depot, and Wireless Tele
graphy.
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ,
July 23, 1903