'Selection from Correspondence Relative to the Traffic in Arms in the Persian Gulf, 1897-98. Part I' [‎24r] (47/54)

41
No. 46.
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. to the Governor General of India in Council.
Secret No. 6 of 1898.
My Lord,
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. ,
18th March 1898.
I forward, for the information of your Excellency’s Government, a Political
* From Foreign Office, dated 12th CC W °f certain correspondence which 1888/98.
March 1898, and enclosures. (Enclosures in has passed between the Eoreign Office
Foreign Office Letters of 5th and 7th March and Messrs. Eracis Times & Co *
1898 also sent—see Nos. 40 and 41).
2 . I shall be glad to receive any observations which the Resident at
Bushire, or the 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. at Muscat, may have to offer. It will be
observed that the Marquess of Salisbury has expressed his inability to object
to measures being adopted at Muscat for enforcing the prohibition laid by the
Persian Government upon the traffic in arms to Persia.
3. I am forwarding a copy of this Despatch direct to the Resident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in order that he may lose no time in submitting his report, and
that of the 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. at Muscat, to your Excellency in Council.
4. I am awaiting your Excellency’s report as to the arrangement made
with the Chief of Bahrein, and the measures taken in consequence.
With reference to the letter from this Office of the 7 th instant, I am
directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to transmit to you, to be laid before
Lord George Hamilton, a copy of a letter from Messrs. Eracis Times and
Company, and of the reply w r hich has been returned thereto respecting the
importation of arms into Persia and places on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
I am to suggest that Messrs. Eracis Times and Company’s letter should be
referred to Her Majesty’s Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. for his observations,
and to the Government of India for inquiry as to the arrangements which
have been made at Bahrein.
As you appear to be under complete misapprehension with reference
to our position in respect of the property recently seized, we think it right
to send you the enclosed explanatory statement, every word of which we are
prepared to verify, and which must convince every impartial person that the
seizure of our property by the British Government was without justification.
The consequences of the course thus adopted, and delay in making
restitution of our property, are most cruel, for although we have a large
S. 8. L
I have, &c.,
George Hamilton.
Enclosure in above.
Eoreign Office to 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. .
Sir,
Eoreign Office,
12th March 1898.
I am, &c.
The Under Secretary of State
for India.
T. H. Sanderson.
Sir,
Sub-Enclosure 1 .
Eracis Times & Co. to 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. .
27, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.,
7th March 1898.