File 815/1917 Pt 7 'Persian Gulf:- Lighting and Buoying. Lighthouse Tender, and Despatch Vessel.' [‎281r] (262/567)

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transfer the Lawreyice to duty as a unit in the newly formed Royal Indian Navy.
Whether or not this transference would involve her permanent departure from
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. it now appeared that in her new duties she would no longer
be available as the Political Resident’s despatch vessel except in so' far as, in
emergency, that officer is permitted to make use of any British warship that is
to hand. In these circumstances it appeared to me to be impossible longer
to contend that the provision and maintenance of the Lawrence as the
Resident’s despatch vessel is a necessary item of political expenditure of
which the Imperial Government should bear a share. I observe from the
copy of correspondence received in your Foreign Secretary’s letter No. 35 M.
of the 6th 31 ay that, as a corollary to the proposals now under consideration
for the future employment of the Lawrence, arrangements are under
examination for making a vessel regularly available to 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.
for the purpose of his normal cold-weather tours, including those to the
Oman and Mekran coasts. I have considered the question of preferring a
claim on the Home Government for a share of the cost of the vessel which
may be used for this purpose; but in view of the fact that the cost of I
administering the political posts in Oman, Bahrein and Mekran is borne '
entirely by Indian revenues, I feel sure that any attempt to recover from
Imperial revenues, whether from the Foreign Office or Colonial Office, any
share of the cost of conveyance of the officer supervising the administration
of these posts would be unsuccessful, particularly if it should prove that ,
the vessel used is that owned by the Indo-European Telegraph Department,
to whom the cost of conveying 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 accrue as profit.
Nor does it appear likely, in view of the arguments put forward in previous
correspondence, that a claim could be made successfully in respect of visits to
Koweit or Persian ports for which the Resident might use this vessel.
9. Subject, therefore, to any observations that Your Excellency’s
Government may desire to offer, I propose not to prolong the controversy
with the Foreign Office and Treasury, but to acquiesce in the arrangements
resulting from the Foreign Office letter of the 20th February 1925.
10. It follows from this decision that the instructions requested in para. 2
of the letter from your Secretary in the Commerce Department, No. 148-S. (21).
of the / th tJanuaiy last, aie that the moiety (Rs. 15,2551 due to the Imperial
Exchequer from the sale proceeds of the Nearchus should be used as a
contribution (and the sole contribution forthcoming from the Imperial
Exchequer) to the cost incurred by the Government of India in equipping the
Lawrence for lighthouse tender’s work. The balance of Rs. 9,820, which
would have been due from Imperial revenues on a basis of equai division of
this item of expenditure, must be borne finally by Indian revenues.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
5 oui Loidship s most obedient humble Servant,
(Signed) Birkenhead.