'Précis on naval arrangements in the Persian Gulf, 1862-1905' [‎16] (24/64)

i6
carrying out his idea, but if he could not do so ^^Govemment
naval officer, who should proceed to Tehran and advl f® was t0 pay
as to the cost and other deta> s ot the "f'^X^nce o Rs Ts The Shah
for this officer's journey and give him a daily allowance o J3
declined this offer.
ic In i86 q one of the Maskat Sultan's rivals plundered Bunder Abbas
'S- ln '^9 one 01 sacked the Government House and then got
Z°£°"away by sea. This event naturally increased
the Shah's desire for a navy, and the Minister at lehran ^ned tha e
Persian Government wished to obtain vessels of war from trance, one ot tne
obiects being the recovery ot Bahrein. Much as Government objected to the
establishment of a Persian Navy In the Gulf, U was thought less d ^ ble
this Navy should be established by another European power and it was resolved
if necessary, to give the Shah one ship, but he appears to have abandoned the
(ii) Arrangements for a naval force for the Gulf.
16. The arrangements finally made by the Home Government are shown in
the correspondence received with the Uuke
Political A., January 1870, Nos. 147-54. ^ ^gyU's despatch No. 235, dated 31 St
August 1869.
17. U appears that the Secretary of State for India had assented to a
proposal that a capitation grant of ^ 10 per man should be paid yearly out o^the
Indian funds, on account of six of Her Majesty's vessels to be employed m
Indian waters in general, three of which would be detailed for constarit and
exclusive service in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and adjacent waters, to be under the
immediate control of the Government of India, the other three also being at their
disposal whenever, and so far as, the requirements of the Imperial service would per
mit. But as the payment ot a capitation rate for a variable number of men would
involve the keeping of elaborate accounts between the 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 the
Admiralty, and email much clerical labour, the Admiralty proposed that a fixed
sum of £70,000 should be paid yearly out of Indian lunds for the above service
from date to be named hereafter, it being understood that no larger sum was at
any time to be chargeable against the Indian Government without the previous
assent ot the Secretary of State for India in Council, and that the Admiralty
would bear the whole expense off the wear and tear of the hulls, rigging,
machinery, and stores of the ships.
Should any doubt at any time arise on the part of the _ Indian Government
as to the stipulated number of six vessls having been maintained as agreed upon,
the Admiralty would consider themselves bound to establish the fact, and a pro
portionate reduction of the contribution would be made if the number of ships
should not have been kept up.
It was understood that the Indian Government would defray all expenses
which might be incurred on shore by the officers and men of Her Majesty's
ships whilst they might be employed on any service, in compliance with requisi
tions from the 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. .
With regard to the repair and maintenance of Her Majesty's ships to be
employed in Indian waters, it was to be understood that the free use of the
dockyard at Bombay should be given to all Her Majesty's ships on the station,
that the Indian Government should pay the expense of labour incurred and
materials supplied at that dockyard with regard to the three vessels to be
employed exclusively in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and waters adjacent, and that the said
three vessels should always be supplied with coal at the cost of the Indian
Government.
18. A copy of the instructions which the Admiralty proposed to address to
the Senior Officer of Her Majesty's Ships on the East India Station, relative to
•The idea was revived in 1883, when Murteza Khan, son of the Minister Mui<ber-ed-Dowleh, was sent to Europe
^ t oa- w . 1 » 1. to purchase a gun-boat and two small steamers. He arranged
Secret E., June 1885, Nos. 161-167 and-counter-marks. , r . * .• u c c „„ a
' J ior the construction by a German firm of a gun boat Persepolxs
and a steamer (Susa). For d?scription of Persepolis see Curzon's Persia, volume II, pages 394-95. On page 356 of
the same volume will be found description of tRe Susa,