File 815/1917 Pt 12 ‘Persian Gulf: Resident’s Despatch Vessel Arrangements for transporting the Resident.’ [‎523r] (839/905)

Letter from the IIon’ble 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, No. 259-S., dated the ILth August 1927.
In mv letter No. 246-S., dated the 31st July 1927 (Pile No. 360-N.), I
referred to the necessity of a Ya ht for 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 and I pointed out how this mi^ht be obtained as an economy by the reduc
tion of one sloop of His Majesty’s Navy.
Apart from the question of the price of the ship—and a ship for the Navy
is necessarily more costly than a yacht—there would be considerable economy
in the exp> use of the personnel.
For a Yacht but three officers and a very much smaller number of men
would be required.
Thus not only would economy he secure but 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. would
become mobile and an immobile ilesi lent s snoru of the half of his value, in
fact he is hardly worth the money.
That Office s in the past few years have shown some disinclination to
travel is not to be wonder, d at. The conditions were uncomfortable and the
R I M S “ Lawrence ” while she existed was a bad sea boat. Inc political
deficiencies of a seasick Resident are probably greater than those of an immobile
one. It is ..ifficult to be seasick and digmfted and the Persian Gull is tamo, s
for its bad weather.
But in a very short time after its arrival the “ Lawrence” was not at the
sole disposal of the Resident. The difficulty of sen ing two masters has ancient
authority, the difficulty o: being one of the two mastery is equally great
resulted in the Resident not asking for the Lawrence at all with the conse
quence hat he became an ordinary passenger on the mail steamer and ravelled
ill so far as he could to places visited by the mail. Bor o fche ry slts *' e felled
if he had to do so, uncomfortably by one of the Naval vessels in the Gu ,
accommodating his staff on deck or as best he could.
I have already stated in the despatch I have quoted that a vmt ^ the
Resident is more valuable than a gun boat. I he visit et a 1 ohtical A s e . •
also considerable value.
The Southern side of the Gulf, the Arab Coast, now so necessary to us re-
quires the services of a Political Officer and t ie area or the other
Agents of Muscat and Bahrain or Kuwait or taken ove , snared for
The Kuwait Officer has the least work and could most eas „ P
extended tours.
Their arrival in a wun boat is sometimes necessary for the furtherence of
good rStion" R is mo're frequently preferable that they should come in a vess 1
definitely^ connected with the political service,.
Well intentioned as most Commanders of Naval ships are they have their
own desires and wishes and do not always desire to officers as a
The human element comes in, they regard the cariyma P f re -
matter of courtesy on their part, and indeed and P^^uffi be.
quently have their own ideas as to w hat politica ac
Sometimes their desire to depart adds to the ^
work wffiile the lack of accommodation is always more than
ence where office work is concerned.
461(C) F&PD