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'Status of the Islands of Tamb, Little Tamb, Abu Musa, and Sirri' [‎24r] (3/8)

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The record is made up of 1 file (4 folios). It was created in 24 Aug 1928. It was written in English. 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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Resident supported his statement with the translation of a letter written in
1877 by the Sheikh Ali-bin-Khalifah of Lingahto the Chief of Ras-al-Khaima,
in which the former “ admits that Tamb is a dependency of the Kowasim
of Oman, and that the Persians have no property there nor any right to
interfere, save with the consent of the Chief of Ras-al-Khaima.” In
conclusion, he expressed the opinion that the Persian Government had no
good title to the islands in question.||
11. The Sheikh of Shargah protested to the Resident on 16th October
1887 against the Persian action at Sirri, and asked that similar action at
Tamb might be prevented. The Government of India felt, however, some
difficulty as to the action to be taken, in view of the fact that Persian
Jowasimis had joint rights on Sirri and Tamb, and that one Arab Sheikh
only had appealed, and it was agreed, in consultation with the Resident,
that, no overt action having been taken by Persia in the case of Tamb,
representations at Teheran should be confined to the question of Sirri. 0
12. On representations being made, the Persian Government stated!
that for nine years Sirri and Tamb had paid taxes to the Persian Government,
and that, documents in support of the Persian claim being at Bushire, the
Governor had been instructed to explain matters to the Resident. The
Governor, however, informed the Resident that “ he had no documents
relating to the Persian claim, and that he had wired to the Amin-es-Sultan
excusing himself from discussing the question with the Resident.”! Enquiry
was independently made of the Chief of Shargah as to the Amin-es-Sultan’s
statement. The Chief’s reply explained the connection of the Governors
of Lingah with the island of Sirri, and added that Tamb was uninhabited,
and that no taxes had been paid to Persia. He further enclosed three
letters from Chiefs of Lingah, admitting the Chief of Shargah’s ownership
of Tamb.§
13. The Persian Government had meanwhile produced five official letters
from a former Sheikh of Lingah (Yusuf-bin-Mahomad) in support of the
Persian claim to the two islands.l| The Resident,^} after examination,
replied “ that he considered that the documents did not bear out the Persian
claim, and that weight should not be attached to the statements of the Sheikh
in question, who was a dependant and servant of the Jowasimi Sheikh, Ali-
bin-Khalifah [cp. para. 10 above], whom he murdered in order himself to
become Chief of Lingah, ’ and, the Persian Minister appearing to rely on a
statement of Sheikh Yusuf that he had ‘‘gone to the island of Sirri to inspect
and recover Government (Persian) dues,” the Resident wrote that he
considered that “ this statement could not be accepted as establishing or
even supporting the Persian claim to possession, nor as sufficient to deprive
the Jowasimi Arab family of their ancient and previously recognised rights
on that island.” (It may be added that on 29th March 1881 Sheikh Yusuf
wrote to the Chief of Ras-al-Khaiina fully admitting the possession of Tamb
by ihe Jowasimis.)§§ The Resident further pointed out that the Jowasimi
Sheikhs of Lingah had usually also been Deput}-Governors of Lingah on
behalf of Persia ; they exercised authority on Sirri island, but it was qua
Jowasimi Sheikh and not qua Persian Governor.
14. A reply on the lines of the Resident’s report was sent to the Amin-
es-Sultan by Her Majesty’s Minister on 2nd March 1888. The Persian
Government, on enquiry being made' 00 as to the grounds on which they
had annexed Sirri, replied!! that it was in their possession, being a
dependency of Lingah, to which the Legation replied that jurisdiction
over Sirri had been exercised by the Governors of Lingah solely in their
capacity of Jowasimi Sheikhs, that the traditional rights over Sirri of the
Jowasimi Sheikhs had never been disputed and were generally recognised,
that the hoisting of the Persian flag altered the existing status, and that it
was on this ground that Her Majesty’s Government desired that reasons
should be shown for this alteration. The note, after adding that while
“ possession, if of long standing, and undisputed, undoubtedly carried
considerable weight . . . the argument would scarcely govern in the
present instance,” concluded by asking the Persian Government to com
municate “ the proofs they possess of the former dependence of Sirri island
on Persian authority.”
|| Pol. Res. to G. of
I., Sept. 27 1887.
* Tel. from Pol. Res.
to G. of I., Nov. 15
1887.
t Tel. from C. d’A.,
Teheran, to Pol.
Res., Dec. 10 1887.
X Tel. from Pol. Res
to C. d’A., Teheran,
Dec. 12 1887.
§ Pol. Res. to C.d’A.,
Teheran, Feb. 12
1888.
|| C. d’A., Teheran,
to Res., Jan. 2 1888.
Res. to C. d’A.,
Jan. 23 1888.
§§ Pol. Res.’s Memo,
of Mav 1895,
P. 985/04.
** Note of Mar. 6
1888.
ft Note of Mar. 10
1888.

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Content

Document outlining the status of the Islands of Tamb, Little Tamb, Abu Musa, and Sirri. It includes the following: an introduction to the status of the islands; a history of the islands prior to 1887; the occupation of Sirri by Persia, 1887; the temporary Persian occupation of Abu Musa and Tamb, 1904; the status of Sirri in 1909; the erection of a lighthouse on Tamb Island, and communications to the Persian Government and the Sheikh of Shargah [Shaikh of Sharjah], 1912-13; statements made by His Majesty's Government to the German Government as to the ownership of Abu Musa, 1907-14; reassertion of the Persian claim to Tamb and Abu Musa, 1923; Persian customs interference at Abu Musa, 1925-26; reassertion of the Persian claim to Tamb, 1928; and a final summary.

Written by John Gilbert Laithwaite of 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. .

Extent and format
1 file (4 folios)
Arrangement

This file consists of a single document.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 23, and terminates at f 26, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, 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. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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English in Latin script
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'Status of the Islands of Tamb, Little Tamb, Abu Musa, and Sirri' [‎24r] (3/8), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B397, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029521333.0x000004> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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