Skip to item: of 686
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 815/1917 Pt 13 'Persian Gulf: lighting and buoying service; Shatt al-Arab Conservancy Board' [‎337r] (680/686)

The record is made up of 1 volume (338 folios). It was created in 15 Jun 1928-9 Dec 1931. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

ersia s impotence to police
the responsibilities thrust, in consequence, on ourselves 1
the VtuII waters is still patent.
9. The shadow of Russia still overclouds the whole problem. But if we maintain
our ascendancy unimpaired on the Arab side of the Gulf, readjust ourself wiih
( iginty to lersias changing conditions, and are prepared to reassert ourselves
vigorously (? omission) on Persia’s regeneration in the Gulf with equanimity.
10. A strategic appreciation will follow in due course, but our answers to the
teims of refeience put to the Chiefs of the Staff by the Committee of Imperial Defence
may be summarised thus F
(1) Maintenance m the sense of supremacy in the Gulf is still essential to the
security oi India and Imperial interests (vising the terms in the sense illustrated
above).
(2) Our supremacy consists specifically in the exclusion of a foreign naval base
from the Gull waters, including the Gulf of Oman, and also, apparently of a foreign
military air base within striking distance of them; the maintenance on the Arab
side of the status quo (i.e., our Protectorates, our friendship with Bin Sand, and
our special relations with Iraq); and the maintenance on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. side of as
much of the status quo as possible, with unessential privileges liquidated with due
dignity.
(3) We can ourselves ensure total exclusion of Russians from our protectorates
and also from Iraq. Bin Sand (or Wahabi fanatics) may be relied upon to exclude
them (merchant shipping possibly excepted) from Nejd territory. On Persian side,
•we must rely, firstly, on Persian nationalism not to admit Russia after edging us out;
secondly, on standing warning of Lansdowne Declaration (reaffirmed if necessary);
thirdly, on our own vigilance and determination to reassert ourselves on Persian
littoral should Persia show any sign of letting Russia encroach. In view of rapid
development of which air power is capable, the possibility of sudden emergence of an
air menace to our communications wdll call for special vigilance.
(4) The maintenance of independence of Maskat, Koweit, Bahrein and Trucial
Chiefs is necessary. Our veiled protectorate over them suffices against European
encroachments. So long as we do not alienate Arab opinion by attempting undue
westernisation {vide our Despatch Ao. 13, Secret, dated 8th September 1927) it
suffices also against encroachments by Wahabi States. At need it can be more
explicitly asserted.
(5) Whether our Kishm and Henjam coaling stations can be moved to Bahrein
without disadvantage is primarily a question for the Admiralty. Primd facie the
■answer seems to be yes. But politically the better course would apparently be to
bargain our century-old Basidu holding, which Persia has not seriously challenged,
for regularisation of our more valuable but weaker position at Henjam, out of which
she is apparently seeking to squeeze us.
11. Of all the changes that have come over Gulf problem since Curzon s time,
perhaps the most momentous will prove to be the gradual emergence of a new
world opinion reflected generally in League of Nations, and now being embodie
in Kellogg Treaty, imposing inhibitions on the free use of naval and military
predominance. We can apparently no longer at will overawe a recalcitrant Persia
by a display of force. It is to be hoped, however, that the reservations which His
Majesty’s Gorernment are making over Kellogg Treaty, coupled with the existence oi
the Lausdowne Declaration, will leave our hands free to deal forcibly wit i any
deliberate challenge to our position in the Gulf by another Power, even though a
Power becomes a signatory to the Treaty, and encroaches on the Gulf in the guise of
Persia’s friend. We understand that the liberty of our gunboats to pursue their
police work on Arab side in the cause of civilisation will remain unimpaired and
unquestioned. Happily, mere presence of His Majesty’s Navy in these waters suffices
to reduce the necessity for forcible action to a minimum For the people ^ ^he GuH,
seafarers themselves, know what sea power means. It is, indeed, on sea power,
coupled with Arab dependence on Indian traders, Indian shipping and Mian poit ,
that the Government M India, through 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. and his officers, have
built up British supremacy in the Gulf.

About this item

Content

This volume is composed of interdepartmental correspondence relating to the future administration of the lighting and buoying service in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .

The correspondence discusses the possibility of control of buoying and lighting in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. being transferred to the Government of Persia. At this time the service was being maintained by the Royal Indian Marine, with its financing being shared between the British Imperial Government (specifically the Foreign Office) and the Government of India. The correspondence includes the point of view of the Government of India on the suggestion that the Shatt-Al-Arab Conservancy board should also be responsible for lighting and buoying along the Gulf coast. Furthermore, it discusses the major point to be settled in the present negotiations with Persia during 1928-30, which is the international boundary in the Shatt-el-Arab, as defined in the Treaty of Erzurum of 1847, and the Persia-Turkish Frontier Delimitation Agreement of 1913. The correspondence then moves on to cover the organisation and discussion of the tripartite conference taking place in Iraq regarding the future administration of the lighting and buoying service on the coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , with the participating countries being Iraq, Persia and Great Britain (with India).

Notable correspondents include the following: the Viceroy of India; the Political 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 the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the High Commissioner Iraq; the Director of the Royal Indian Marine; officials of the 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. , the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, the Treasury, and the Government of India's Marine Department; the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy, East India Section; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iraq; the Government of Iraq; the Council of Ministers, Iraq; the Port Directorate in Basra.

In addition to correspondence, the volume contains the following: minutes of an interdepartmental conference held at the 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. in 1931 (ff 26-28), copies of an 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. memorandum entitled 'Memorandum on the Lighting and Buoyage of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ', dated 1931 (ff 62-64).

The volume includes a divider which gives the subject number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format
1 volume (338 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 815 ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ) consists of 6 volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/659-664. The volumes are divided into 13 parts, with part 1 (A-G) comprising one volume, part 2 comprising the second volume, parts 3-9 comprising the third volume, part 10 comprising the fourth volume, parts 11-12 comprising the fifth volume, and part 13 comprising the sixth volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 340; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The volume has one foliation anomaly, f 89a.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 815/1917 Pt 13 'Persian Gulf: lighting and buoying service; Shatt al-Arab Conservancy Board' [‎337r] (680/686), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/664, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100075761899.0x000051> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100075761899.0x000051">File 815/1917 Pt 13 'Persian Gulf: lighting and buoying service; Shatt al-Arab Conservancy Board' [&lrm;337r] (680/686)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100075761899.0x000051">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00022f/IOR_L_PS_10_664_0680.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00022f/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image