Coll 29/42 'Diplomatic and consular expenditure: contribution (from Indian revenues) towards cost of a British Chaplain at Tehran; Christian cemeteries in Persia and the Persian Gulf' [‎160r] (318/704)

'""''HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
WITH reference to my telegrams Nos. 116 and 117 of the 2nd April, I have
the honour to forward to you a copy of the note which I handed to the Iranian
Minister for Foreign Affairs announcing the decision to evacuate Hen jam and
Basidu.
2. His Excellency read the note through twice, his face giving no indication
whatever as to what he thought. Having done so, he asked me to tell him what
these bases consisted of, as I had visited them and he had not. I explained that
at Hen jam there were buildings, canteen, gear, stores and fuel, and that nowadays
there existed very little at Basidu beyond the flagstaff (which would be removed)
and certain buildings. I added that at Basidu one of the buildings was used as a
kind of court, as we had for more than a century possessed certain administrative
rights over the inhabitants.
3. M. Kazemi then assumed a pleased expression and remarked that he
regarded our decision as a step forward in improving Anglo-Iranian relations.
He would probably have to send me a written answer in regard to the latter part
of the communique, but he could not do so until the Cabinet had been consulted.
4. I was slightly relieved by his Excellency’s reception of the note, as I had
feared that, following some tortuous mental process, he would have endeavoured
to accuse His Majesty’s Government of having violated the status quo. He,
however, made no mention whatever of the status quo, but went on to deal with
the more general Gulf questions reported in my telegram No. 122.
5. I am sending copies of this despatch to the Foreign Secretary to the
Government of India, to the hon. the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , the
Naval Commander-in-chief, East Indies, and to the Senior Naval Officer, Persian
Gulf Division.
Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen to Persian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
M. le Ministre, Tehran, A pril 2, 1935.
I HAVE the honour, under instructions from His Majesty’s Principal
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, to inform your Excellency that His
Majesty’s Government have decided, for reasons of administrative convenience,
to transfer their naval stations in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the Arab coast and that, in
consequence, they are taking immediate steps to relinquish their establishments
at Hen jam and Basidu. A communique stating this fact and outlining the
reasons for this decision is being issued on the Arab coast. For the simultaneous
information of the Iranian Government, I have the honour to enclose herewith
the text of this communique^ 1 )
2. The stores in the depots and portable property generally will be removed
as soon as possible, but His Majesty’s Government will hand over the buildings
to the local Iranian authorities, who will be free to make whatever use of them
they wish.
3. As your Excellency is aware, there exist both at Basidu and at Hen jam
British cemeteries. His Majesty’s Government feel that they can rely upon the
CONFIDENTIAL.
PERSIA.
April 23, 1935.
Section 1.
[E 2586/23/34]
No. 1.
Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen to Sir John Simon.—{Received April 23.)
(No. 149.)
Sir,
Tehran, April 5, 1935.
I have, &c.
H. M. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN.
Enclosure in No. 1.
ONot printed.
[390 z—1]