'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎146r] (296/386)

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Tmeial States 1ms bound itself, as you know, not to enter into any agreement
n. corre nondenoe with any other Power, not to admit the agent of any other
Government, and not to part with any portion of its territories. These engage-
™° nts „ re binding on every one of yon, and you have faithfully adhered to them.
Thev are also binding in their reoiproeal effect upon the British Government, and
as Ion" as they are faithfully observed by the Chiefs there is no fear that any
one else will he allowed to tamper with your rights of liberties.
Sometimes I think that the record of the past is in danger of being forgotten
and there are persons who ask why stiould Great Britain continue to exercise
these powers ? The history of your Slates and of your families, and the present
condition of the Gulf are the answer. We were here before any other Power,
in mordern times, had shown its face in these waters. o found strife and
we have created order. It was our commerce as well as your security that
,,.„ = threatened and called for protection. At every port along these coasts
tlm suhjects^d the 1 King of England still reside and trade. The great Empire
of India, which it is our duty to defend, lies almost at your gates. We
saved vou from extinction at the hands of your neighbours. A\ e opened these
sens to the ships of all nations, and enabled their flags to fly m peace. We
have not seized or held your territory. We have not destroyed your mde-
nendenoe buThave preserved it. We a.e not now going to throw away this
century of costly and triumphant enterprise; we shall not wipe out the most
unselfish page in history. The peace of these waters mnst still be maintained;
your independence will continue to bo upheld; and the influence of the Bntis
Government must remain supreme.
There is one respect in which the Chiefs themselves can avert any renewal
nf trouble iii the future. The Biitish Government have no desire to interfere,
and have never interfered, in your internal affairs, provided that the duels
vnvern their territories with justice, and respect the rights of the foreign trac ers
residin" therein. If anv internal disputes occur, your wi 1 always find a friend
in the British Besident, who will use his influence, as he has frquently done m
the nast to prevent those dissensions from coming to a head, and to maintain
the flatus quo • for we could not approve of one independent Chief attacking
another Chief by land, simply because he was not permitted to do it by sea and
thus evading the spirit of his Treaty obligations. I will men.ioin a case that
* i.Jj itsfl i f lo friendly settlement of the character that 1 have described.
You are aU of you aware tl'at the strip of coast known as the Baticeh coast on
the oimosite side of the Oman peninsula, is under the authority of the Chief ot
the Jowasmis Nevertheless his authority is contested in some quarters. It is
desirable that these disputes should cease, and that the peace should renin
undisturbed.
Chiefs these are the relations that subsist between the British Government
and vourselves^The Sovereign of the British Empire lives so far away that
and jornsel ^ = r win erei . see his face ; but his orders are earned
out every where throughout his vast dominions by the officers of the Govern,
ment and it is as his representative in India who is responsible to linn for your
welfare tkat l am here to-day to exchange greetings with you, to renew old
assurances, and to wish you prosperity in t ic uturo.
Enclosure IV to 15.
Reply of Ilis Excellency the Viceroy to an Address of Welcome presented to
him at Bunder Abbas on 22nd November 1903, on board l ie h. 1. M. .
“ Hardin,,e," by a deputation of the British Indian subjects and traders
residing there. • '
at meeting here a community of Bt ^ f q ^ frieadly land) and
King-Emperor, enjoying the hospital y country and to yourselves,
engaged in a trade which is equally beneftou ‘ “Yf e nu ^ ber of her
I am glad that Persia returns the oomph merit by sendm^a^
own gifted and intelligent subjects in ^ odum timeg o£ a connection
these relations are merely the coniinu