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File 4011/1923 Pt 1 'PERSIAN GULF NEGOTIATIONS 1928-33. BASIDU.' [‎19r] (42/1306)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (649 folios). It was created in 22 Oct 1923-29 Nov 1933. It was written in English, French and Arabic. 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. .

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Page 3
4
|90£ - Letter
14th Feb.
1902.
(Continued).
-
|
L - Letter
2nd May//
ie01 ; //
No 6 ^
5 s^/o
/
botihen properly surveyed end buoyed, eultable
0f lar K e vessels. Entrance
could be defended by forte built on the land side.
lAm-wh-? 1 ? 11 v<ould * ak « » 8°o< J coaling station although
inconveniently situated from the entrance of the
Oulf for purpoaea of control and observation.
f* aubmai ine cable between Jaskh and Bushire is laid
a s.du woulS*2I*J f island of Kish* and a branch to
^Aaidu oula be of great assistance to the Political
Resident. M&val Coamnder-in-Chief and Senior Naval Officer
in carrying out naval duties in the Gulf*

the Navy alone.
avv^ir. btiafc an i3lun<1 » 0&n be completely defended by
10. In considering the relative advantages of the
£o™ t wh?„h nCh ° rafie \ 0f £ Ki8h “ and I Prefer the
former which appears to he more safe end convenient and
** ‘-r situated from a Naval strategical point of view as
pSan o«ir 0th ® anda r Abbas and thl entrance to the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Nevertheless I should point out that the
occupation of either of theee islands by a foreign nower
would be disastrous to British power und prestige in the
< U W T? r f as tbe occupation of Bandar Abbas itself, which
i'. the aiataat future, it may be less easy to prevent,
would not from a naval point of vi«w, in its immediate
consequences, be nearly so disturbing.
From Government of India (Foreign Department) to the
Secretary of State for India j-
With reference to Your Lordshlpi's secret despatch
No.30 dated the 83rd November 1900, regarding the selection
of a British Naval Base in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , we have the
honour to forward a copy of a letter from our Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , which give cover to a report
upon the islands of Hormuz, Kishm and Henjam, by Lieutenant
Hunt, who was till lately Vice Consul et Bandar Abbas, or
2, «• arc strongly of opinion that, in the event of
Russians occupying Bandar Abbas or any other Persian
harbour near the entrance of the Gulf, or acquiring
political or naval orivileges there, suen as would
constitute a vioIAAtion of the understanding of 1834, our
Naval Officer Conaanding in the Gulf should have instruction*
at once to plant the British Flag upon the three islands of
Hormuz, Hen jam and Kishm* We would occupy Hormuz not with
the idea of making it our principal naval station, bwt in
order to prevent its being taken by Russia, and because its
possession would give us command of Bandar Abbas, Hen^am
and Kishm in our opinion must necessarily be taken
together. The smaller Island is required because best
available harbour in this part of the Gulf appears to be
that which lies between it and Kishm. and Kishm is necessary
to us because we already possess a plot of British
territory upon it at Bassldor and because it would be
indispensable as a base of supplies for Henjam, Your
Irordshipa

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Content

This volume relates to the British occupation of Basidu, situated on Kishm [Qeshm] Island in the Gulf, close to the south coast of Persia [Iran], and occupied by the British since the early 1820s. It is stated in the correspondence that the site had been used mainly as a coal depot for British naval vessels until 1913, and that since then it has been retained on 'political grounds', as a potential bargaining asset in negotiations with Persia.

The correspondence primarily concerns the British claim (or lack thereof) to Basidu, in the event of the Persian Government questioning Britain's ongoing occupation. It covers the history of Basidu's status and the various existing agreements that relate to it, as part of an attempt by the British to gather documentary evidence to support their claim. Also discussed are a number of reported incidents at Basidu, involving British representatives and the local Persian authorities, mainly regarding customs, taxes, and the presence of the British naval guard. In addition, the correspondence touches on Anglo-Persian relations in general, with occasional references being made to ongoing treaty negotiations between the two countries.

The volume's principal correspondents are as follows: 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the British Minister in Tehran; the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; 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, and the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department. Other notable but less frequent correspondents include the following: the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; the Viceroy of India; the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station; the Law Officers of the Crown.

Included with the correspondence are several related documents, including the following: two sketch maps (f 622); copies (in English and Arabic) of a treaty dated 1856 between Muscat and Persia, in which the Imam of Muscat acknowledges Kishm Island as being part of the Persian Empire (f 179 and ff 221-223); draft and final 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 dated 18 October 1933, outlining Britain's understanding of the history of the status of Basidu from 1720 to 1928, including extracts from nineteenth century reports and related correspondence (ff 46-54 and ff 123-159); a submission of reference, prepared by 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. and the Foreign Office, for the Law Officers of the Crown, requesting the latter's legal opinion on the strength of the British claim to Basidu (ff 43-45 and ff 67-83); a copy of a secret report on Basidu, prepared by the Commander-in-Chief at the East Indies Station, containing extracts from the East Indies Station's records and notes from the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (ff 16-38).

The Arabic language material consists of the aforementioned treaty text. The material written in French consists of small extracts from correspondence and treaty articles. It should be noted that there is no material covering the years 1924 and 1925.

The volume includes two dividers, which give a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (ff 4-5).

Extent and format
1 volume (649 folios)
Arrangement

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

The subject 4011 ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Negotiations) consists of two volumes, IOR/L/PS/10/1094-1095. The volumes are divided into two parts, with each part comprising one 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 651; 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.

Written in
English, French and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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File 4011/1923 Pt 1 'PERSIAN GULF NEGOTIATIONS 1928-33. BASIDU.' [‎19r] (42/1306), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/1094, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100077104051.0x00002b> [accessed 25 April 2024]

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