'Memorandum respecting British interests in the Persian Gulf' [‎33v] (32/126)

island and His Majesty’s ships would prove of
value, while the commercial advantages of estab
lishing telegraphic intercourse with the outside
world are apparent.
Writing in 19 J4 Sir X. O’Conor, who had
been consulted in regard to the steps which were
in contemplation for improving the status and
position of the British Agent, replied that he had
felt strongly for some years past that we were
losing the opportunity of jisserting our supremacy
at Bahrein, that he sincerely welcomed the pro
posals of the Government of India, and that he
undertook that the Turkish Government should
raise no serious difficulties.
Sir Lewis Belly, writing in 1863, strongly
advocated the establishment of a free port under
British control in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . He wrote
as follows : —
“ The case of Horrnuz is a precedent for a like
station ; the interferences, incertitude, and want
of accurate knowledge of the market all round
the Gulf point to the alleviation of these evils by
the creation of a general entrepbt at a convenient
point, where all vessels would, if they pleased toeall,
find cargo ready; whereto all boats findingafavour
able chance for exports from their several jurisdic
tions could runacargo in a few days,and whereto all
trade might converge, as circumstances admitted,
from ports subjected to sudden, but not per
manent, arbitrary interference.
“ My respectful suggestion to Government is,
that the formation of a port so concentrating all
our interests would do more to create and to
develop the trade of the Gulf and Bussorah line,
and would do more to keep the Government
accurately informed as to their relations and the
condition of commerce in the Gulf, and would
further do more to keep the maritime Arabs
quiet, and to afford an issue for whatever capa
bilities of trade may be possessed by Arabia, than
could all the reports, all the figured statements,
and all the amicable interviews of all the Resi
dents and all the native authorities, that ever
had, or may have, place round these waters.
“ But the port must be really free, and all
tribes and people must know and feel it to be
free; and that, once there, their goods and
persons are secure and unmolested. Let the
authorities of the port limit their functions to
keening the peace, removing obstacles, enforcing
Sir N. O’Conor,
No. 511,
June 28, 1904.