'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎156r] (316/386)

53
of political advantage arising out of a reoccupation of the island, be in itself
a distinct gain as affording a point in the fair way up the Gulf intermediate
between Maskat and Bushire, at which communication can be made with His
Majesty’s ships of war. With the object of providing improved facilities in
this respect, the Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station proposed early
in 1902 the location of a telegraph station in the mouth of the Gulf—the place
then suggested by him being Bassidore—and the advantage which would arise
from the possession of such means of communication in the event of trouble at
any point in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is manifest.
4. Prior to the oecupation of the island for telegraphic purposes in 1869,
considerable discussion took place as to the ownership of Henjam. Rival
claims were urged on behalf of the Sultan of Maskat on the one hand, and the
Persian Government on the other. The Government of India of that day,
however, held that the claims of the Shah must prevail, and that his consent
must bp sought. The necessary permission to occupy the island was duly
accorded in the marginally
Minute of the Persian Foreign Minister, 29th March 1868.
With respect to permission for the cable telegram station on the
lllsnd of Angauno, the num
ber of persons to be em
ployed and the extent of
* Memorandum of the staff and accommo
dation required to work the telegraph cabie
at Angaum.
Fifteen European*, consisting of clerk* to
work the instruments nieht and day, allowance
beimr made for such as may be d'tsabled by ill-
pess—of a Superintendent and his Assistant—an
Apothecary a d store keeper.
A Telegraph Office containing instrument
room, battery rooms. Superintendent’s office,
^Dwelling-house for Superintendent and his
Assistant. , , .
harrnek for ten or twelve clerks.
House for Apothecary and medical stores
Large shed for telegraph stores and material.
Hou«e for store-keeper. , x ,
Shed for inferior material and coal store for
the teiegraph steamer when cruising. Sundry
out-offices for cooking hnu-es, native servants,
stables, &c. „ , _
C. Alison.
Tehran, 14th Jlarch 1868
accommodation to be pro
vided iu the said islan l in
accordance with the said
memorandum,* dat<d 14th
Match, and the plans for?
warded to the Persian
Foreign Office on the 27th
of the same month after
being approved of by the
Ifritish Mis-ion. the Per
sian Minister, in order to
strengthen the friendly
relations between the two
Governments, will give per
mission and authority in the
__ ,. in , Tr _
rated Minute of the Persian
Government, a copy of which
appears to have been commuv
nicated to Lord Stanley by Sir
Charles Alison, then Minister
at Tehran, in his letter* No. 42,
dated the 31st March 1868.
Our abandonment of the sta*
tion does not seem to have
formed the subject of any
formal communication to the
Persian Government, and the
authority granted has, so far
as we are aware, never been
cancelled or withdrawn. Wo
consider, therefore, that the
permission still bolds good and.
manner indicated provided
that tie number of employes and extent of the buildings are nut
allowed at any time to exceed those explained in the memorandum
necived from the British Legation. ^ ^
would require no express renewal; and we would propose merely to com
municate to the Persian Government, through the Indo-Telegraph Department,
our intention to land the cable again for purposes of telegraphic convenience
at Heniam and to re-open our former station there. It might at the same time
be pointed out to the Persian Government that the proposal is one that
will benefit them no less than ourselves, by linking up one of their most
important Gulf ports with the system of electric telegraph which has already
lent so great support to the Shah’s authority in outlying parts of his dominions.
If however obiections should be raised at Tehran, it might be pointed out that,
in’the event of obstacles being placed in the way of our re-oceupation of Henjam,
we shall merely substitute a station at Bassidore, where we have land of our
own, in which case Persia would lose the advantage of oonncetion with Bunder
Abbas. .
5 As regards the incidence of the cost of the proposal, we may point out
that telegraphic connection with Maskat has now been effected at the solo
charge of the Indian Government, and we feel sanguine therefore, that His
Majesty’s Government will not object to bear half the cost of the present
nro ect the advantages of which are no less Imperial than Indian. Irom reports
received from our Kcsident iu the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. we learn that the Russian Con-
sul-General at Busbire, in company with the Persian Passport Officer of the Gulf
Ports has made recent excursions to the islands of Larak, Ormuz and Kiskra.
What may be the object of these visits we do not know, but we think it very
desirable 1 that no time should be lost iu taking advantage of superior F c«i-
tion which the facts that we have narrated give us on the island ot Kistm,
and we are forwarding a copy of this despatch direct to His Britannic Maje-ty s
Minister at Tehran, in order that Sir Arthur Ha.dmge may be in a position to
place his views on the subject before His Majesty s Governmint at tlie ail st
possible date. A copy is also being furnished to His Excellency the Common-
der-in-Chief on the East Indies Station with a similar object.