'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.' [‎155r] (314/386)

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No. 54' (Secret—External), dated Simla, the "rl May 1000.
From—The Government of India in the Foreign Department,
To— The Right Hon’blr Lord Grorgs F. Hamilton, Her Majesty’s Secretary
of State for India.
We have the honour to forward, for Your Lordship’s information, a copy
of the correspondence noted in the enclosed list, regarding a project for
establishing cable communication with Maskat and Bunder Abbas.
2. In 1879 Ilis Highness Saiyid Turki, Sultan of Maskat, expressed a
desire that his capital should he connected with India by telegraph. Lord
Lvtton’s Government were not disposed to accord sanction to the large expen
diture which compliance with His Highness’s wishes would necessarily have
involved, and the scheue w r as accordingly dropped. In 1892 a petition signed
bv 1?9 British Indian traders in Maskat was transmitted to us by the Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , in which attention was called to the inadequacy
of the existing means of communication between India and JVlaskat; and we
were able to arrange with the British India Steam Navigation Company that
the mail steamers on both the upward and downward voyages should call
each week at Maskat. In 1899 a similar petition was received in which
the same traders prayed that, in default of the extensiou of the telegraph
system to Maskat, arrangements might be made that the weekly mail
steamers should call at Jask both on the outward and inward voyages for the
receipt and transmission of telegrams to and from Maskat. To this prayer we
were unable to accede, because the British India Steam Navigation Company
could not ensure connection with steamers at Basrah and Karachi, if Jask were
made a port of call on every vovage. We decided, however, that the scheme ot
telegraphic extension which seems to have been negatived on previous occasions,
because the large expenditure involved could not be justified from a strategical
point of view, was worthy of examination on political and commercial grounds.
We accordingly consulted our local officers, who now concur in recommending
the construction of a cable to Maskat. Our 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 Maskat has also
advised the establishment of a telegraphic station at Bunder Abbas.
3. Vfo fullv accept the opinion of the local authorities that from a com-
mercial and political point of view the present means of cornmumcation must
ho regarded as inadequate. The recent activity displayed by foreign nations in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and in the vicinity of Maskat, and our appmntm mt of a
Consular representative at Bunder Abbas, have rendered the provision of
telegraphic communication with Maskat and Bunder Abbas a ma ter of import
ance alike to the Government of India and Her Majesty s Government, and u <,
have decided, subject to Your Lordship’s approval, that the project should ho
carried into effect with the least possible delay.
As regards the attitude of the present Sultan of Maskat, Saiyid Feysal, we
anticipate°that, though no financial assistance can bo expected from him
towards the execution of the project, the extension of the telegraph system
to his capital will command his cordial approval and support.
4. The schemes which have been suggested are that the existing cable
from Karachi to Jask should he diverted and taken from Karachi to Maskat
and thence to Jask, or that a second cable should be laid between Karachi and
Jask, touching at Maskat; and. in cither case, that one o the cxistmg cables
between Jask and Bushire should he looped into Bunder Abbas, or the land line
extended to that place from Jask.
We would ask Your Lordship to submit these suggestions to the Direc'or-
in-Chief, Indo-European Telegraph Department, for consideration and report,
and to furnish ns with the views of Her Majesty’s Govemmen ontheeoro,
any alternative schemes which may commend themselves to that Dcpnitment.
5. We trust that, in view of the Imperial considerations attached to t ie
maintenance of British influence in the neighbourhood of 1 «isian Gul ,
Her Majesty’s Government may be disposed to hear a portion of the cost c y
project which may ultimately be taken in hand.