File 50/1914 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Lighting & Buoying; General Arrangements' [‎10r] (24/396)

CONFIDENTIAL.
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No. 1805, dated 1 itlf (f pppiyed igth) August 1912
From— Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Cox, K C.I.E.; C 3 .L, Political Resi
dent in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Governneut of India in the Foreign Department,
Simla.
I have the honour to address Government on the subject of the adminis
trative arrangements necessitated by the inception during the current year of an
extensive scheme of lighting and buoying in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , which, when
/ complete, will involve upkeep of 2 lighthoujes, 2 light-vessels, 7 lighted buoys,
in addition to a number of unlighted buoys already in place, besides certain lights
and marks on shore; a lighthouse depdt, and, eventually, a lighthmise tender.
2. Owing to the distance of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. from the sources of supply of
the most important items in the scheme and the regrettable consequences, both
political and economic, that might result from the failure of any light, even
temporarily, it is of great importance that the administration and care of the
lights should be placed from the first on a firm and unassailable basis, and that
the details of the arrangements should be regulated with due consideration for
the political and local necessities of the moment. So far as my record shows the
position is at present by no means clear, and I trust that instructions needed for
the definition of it will be issued as soon as possible.
3. The Government of India will remember that it was suggested by the
Lighting and Buoyage Committee in paragraph 17 of their report of 29th April
1909, that—
“ the Government of India were in the best position to undertake the
administration of the Lighting system ” ;
and in the following year, when it was merely a question of taking over and
maintaining the buoys formerly laid and owned by the British India Steam
Navigation Company, the Government of India in the Marine Department
instructed the Director of the Royal Indian Marine —
“ to take over the beacon and buoys in question as soon as possible and
Marine Department letter No. .364-M, dated to arrange for their care and
23rd August 1910. maintenance. It is presum
ed that the Commander of R. I. M. S. “ Lawrence ” will be charged
with this duty”.
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« i t j s requested that you will in due course suggest a reappropriation to
meet the expenditure—initial and recurring—required this year ”.
4 Again in connection with the despatch to the Gulf of items of the new
Lighting and Buoying Scheme recently sanctioned by His Majesty s Govern
ment it has been taken for granted by the several offices concerned that the
Officer Commanding R. I. M. S. “ Lawrence” is charged with the maintenance
of these items also, as they come; and the continuance of this arrangement
seems likely to be necessary at all events 1 until a special lighthouse tender is
provided, the depdt completed, and the final scheme is in working order I
would observe here that I presume throughout these remarks that the light
houses themselves will be built and run entirely by the Director of the Royal
Indian Marine, who will have the co-operation of the 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. in regard to any
local or political details when he may require it.
, As regards the employment of R. I. M. S. “ Lawrence” on lighting and
huoya-e work, 1 would remind Government that her primary functions are those
of a^Jspatch or special service vessel to the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. m the Persian
Gulf and that in that capacity she is, while in Gulf waters, serving under t e
immediate orders^f thatLfficer, who nowadays requires her very requendy
connection with his political duties, and often at short notice. I would
India,
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