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'File 3/2 Interference with Kuwait Sailing Craft on High Seas by Persian warships.' [‎242r] (483/550)

The record is made up of 1 file (273 folios). It was created in 10 Apr 1933-23 Dec 1949. It was written in English, Arabic and Farsi. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Confidential
No. U
(31/16/49)
PEBSIAM GULP RESIDENCY An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ,
Bahrain,
15th February, 1949.
With reference to despatch No. 36 of the 27th
January from His Majesty^ Ambassador, Tehran, on the
subject of interference by Persian naval vessels with
Arab dhows, while I have no reason at present to doubt
Admiral Zelli's sincerity, I regret that I still feel
sceptical regarding the proposals under consideration for
the reasons stated in my despatch No. 4 of the 13th January.
1 asked Colonel Galloway for his comments on the telegram
from the Senior Naval Ifficer, Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , enclosed
with the Tehran despatch under reference and he has replied
as follows:*
tt The delicate nature of the Persian attitude
towards Kuwait and the former’s denial of the
Shaikh’s authority and our treaty rights might
lead to most undesirable complications if Kuwaitis
gave evidence against Persian army officers; parti
cularly if this were done in a Persian Military
Court and unofficially. Indeed, the fact that
Kuwaitis were sent to Khorramshahr to obtain redress
direct from a Persian Military Court might be
used as an extremely undesirable precedent for
the summoning of Kuwaitis to Persia. There is no
guarantee that they would be permitted to return
particularly as they cannot travel on regular pass
ports”.
/
2. I would suggest however that the proposals might be
put into effect experimentally if a suitable case of inter
ference offers itself, i.e. one in which there appears no
reasonable doubt that the Persian authorities are at fault,
and if the master of the arab dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. concerned is willing to go
to Khorramshahr, which I consider unlikely (c.f. paragraph
2 of my despatch No.4), I should have no objection to a
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. in the Gulf corresponding direct with His
Majesty’s Consul-General, *thwa£, about such a case once I had
satisfied myself that it was suitable for treatment on the
lines proposed.
3. I should ada that I very much appreciate the value
to us of Captain Porter’s personal friendly relations with
the Persian naval authorities and am very grateful to him for
his success in recovering for us the three Kuwaiti rifles.
4. I am sending copies of this despatch to His Majesty’s
Ambassador, Tehran and the benlcr 1 aval Cffleer Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I have the honour to be,
with the highest respect,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
\v. r.
The Rt. Hon. Ernest Bevln, M.P.,
etc., etc., etc.,
Foreign tfiice,
London.

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Content

This file relates to incidents of Kuwaiti sailing boats being intercepted (and in some cases seized and detained) by Persian warships and other vessels, on suspicions of smuggling. The file largely consists of correspondence between British officials regarding several specific incidents, including one case in which a Kuwaiti dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. was reportedly seized by a Persian warship (the Babr ) off Henjam [Henjān], and towed to Bandar Abbas [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]. Much of the correspondence surrounding this case and others is concerned with establishing whether or not the incidents occurred within Persian territorial waters.

The file discusses more generally the British perspective regarding the extent of Persia's territorial waters and the Persian Navy's right to stop and search foreign vessels in the Gulf. Also included are instructions from the Admiralty regarding the attitude that should be adopted by His Majesty's ships in the Gulf in response to incidents of interference by Persian vessels.

The principal correspondents are the following:

Some of the correspondence dating from after 1935 refers to 'Iranian' rather than 'Persian' vessels, presumably in response to the Iranian Government's request for the international community to refer to the state by its historical name.

Extent and format
1 file (273 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 275; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 3-274, and ff 6-274; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English, Arabic and Farsi in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 3/2 Interference with Kuwait Sailing Craft on High Seas by Persian warships.' [‎242r] (483/550), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/172, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100028311932.0x000054> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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