File 50/1914 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Lighting & Buoying; General Arrangements' [‎65r] (134/396)

CONFIDENTIAL AND IMMEDIATE.
P. 642.
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. ,
2nd March 1912.
Sir,
In continuation of the lettej from this Office, dated the 27th
February 1912, I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to state,
for the confidential information of the Elder Brethren of the Trinity House,
that as a result of correspondence with the Foreign Office, the Admiralty,
and the Treasury, it has now been decided, subject only to the assent of
the last-named Department in respect of the light-vessel for the Shatt-al-
Arab, to provide and maintain in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. the lights and buoys set
out in the list enclosed.
2. In reply to an inquiry by the Secretary of State as to the plant to be
ordered from this country, the Government of India have suggested in a
telegram, dated the 9th February, that Mr. J). W. Hood should be asked to
advise, since no definite information is in their own possession as to the
designs and requirements of the several lights and buoys beyond what
is contained in Mr. Hood’s Report. The Marquess of Crewe would be
greatly obliged if this suggestion could be acted on, and a statement be
prepared for transmission to the Government of India showing in the case of
each item of the list, whether lighthouse, light-vessel, or lighted or unlit
buoy, what plant it would seem best to procure and send out from
England.
3. In addition to the lights and buoys, the questions of a lighthouse tender
and of a depot, have also been considered. It has been found impracticable
to adapt as a tender any existing vessel, and, subject to further consideration
when an accurate estimate has been framed, the Government of India have
recommended the construction of a sepai ate tender, foi which, it is undei
stood, the Director of the Royal Indian Marine is now preparing an estimate.
The estimate of Mr. Hood was, it will be remembered, 30,000£. for initial,
and 5,0001. for annual recurring expenditure, but Lord Crewe proposes to
draw attention to the desirability of effecting a reduction in these figures,
and meanwhile he would be glad to learn, for the assistance of the Govern
ment of India in preparing their estimate, on what data Mr. Hood s estimate
was prepared, and whether, in view of the more moderate scheme that has
now been decided on, the Elder Brethren are of opinion that a smaller and
less expensive tender might be sufficient.
4. With regard to the lighthouse depot, I am to enquire whether the sum
of 22 000Z. allowed for in Mr. Hood’s estimate cannot also now be substantially
reduced. Both the Secretary of State and the Lords Commissioners of the
Treasury are desirous of confining the scheme to the barest requirements
of the policy of His Majesty’s Government, and they hope that some
The Secretary to the Elder Brethren,
Trinity House, E.C,