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Coll 30/111 'British Naval Stations in: Establishments at Khor Quwai and Bahrain. Evacuation of Henjam and Basidu.' [103r] (210/1154)
The record is made up of 1 volume (572 folios). It was created in 24 Oct 1934-4 May 1937. It was written in English 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1,
( 1 ) 7 .<a, building - sites, bathing and games places.
Sultan of Muscat and Oman to
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.
., Muscat
(Translation.)
(After Compliments.) ¥
I HAVE received your letter dated the 26th March, 1935 and understood
its contents, m addition to the conversation which we had with regard to Ae
Jazirat-al-Crhanam, a dependency of my country Khasab 8
You have been directed by the Honourable 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.
to ask my
permission to use the whole of the island for the purpose of constructing small
buildings for His Majesty s navy to be used as a club for the officers a canteen
and a store for keeping provisions. Also a mooring for the oil barge at Khor
Quwai. I have also received the plan of the island and the Khor, an! noted the
places required by you for the construction of small buildings the moorino- the
beach for bathing and the place for the sports. 5 ’
I have thought over this matter, and, in view of the friendly relations which
exist between me and the British Government, I inform you in reply that with
great pleasure I accord you permission to use the northern part of the island for
the places mentioned in the plan.
As there are goats in the island, I do not agree that the whole of the island
should be used by you. It is said that the goats are wild, but they are not, and
belong to some of my subjects, who often visit the island and see the goats.
Besides the places mentioned in the plan, 1 allow the British navy to go for
a stroll in the rest of the island if they wish to do so, but they should not erect
buildings in any place other than those mentioned in the plan.
It should also be understood that the British navy should not catch any of
the goats in the island, as they are not wild ones and belong to my subjects.
They should not prevent my subjects from visiting the island and using places
other than those specified in the plan for building, &c. I regret that I cannot
accord permission for the use of the whole island, as my subjects cannot do
without it. They would not be able to use it if the British navy use the whole
island, and I am unwilling that any misunderstanding should arise between them,
the storekeeper and the naval men living in the island. Moreover, my subjects
should be at liberty to land and go about in the island except to places which I
have allowed you to use.Q
During our conversation you pointed out that no flagstaff will be erected in
the island, that only small buildings will be constructed and that the places
mentioned in the plan will be used.
I would like to know at what time the work starts so that I may be able to
inform the Vali who represents me in these parts. I would also like to know
how many persons are going to live in the island, and whether they are in
possession of any arms or not.
I request you to convey the contents of my letter to the Honourable 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 confirm what I have explained in it.
About this item
- Content
The file concerns the evacuation of the British naval stations at Henjam [Jazīreh-ye Hengām] and Basidu [Bāsaʻīdū, Qeshm], in Iran (generally referred to in the papers as Persia), and the transfer of naval facilities to a new main station at Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein) and a subsidiary station at Khor Quwai (also spelled Khor Kuwai), Musandam, in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman. The British Government had become aware that the legal basis for their occupation of Basidu was very weak, and that it would probably be impossible to oppose a determined effort by the Iranian Government to assert their claims to Basidu. In addition, between 1932 and 1934 there had been a change in the relative importance to the United Kingdom of the Arab and Iranian coasts of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; the Arab side was now viewed as being more important, as a result of (a) the transfer of the air route to the Arab Coast in 1932, and (b) the discovery of oil at Bahrain, and its probable existence in other parts of the Arab coast. For these reasons, it was felt desirable to move the base of British naval operations in the area (Foreign Office memorandum, folios 221-225).
The main correspondents are the Foreign Office; the Admiralty; senior British naval officers; HM Minister, Tehran (Hughe Montgomery Knatchbull Hugesson); and 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle).
The papers include: discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a naval station at Khor Quwai (folios 539-571); issues raised by Muscat's position as an independent state, and the Anglo-French Declaration of 1862 (folios 529-538); minutes of meetings at the Foreign Office and the Admiralty; the question of the reaction of the Iranian Government; discussion of the announcement of the withdrawal; negotiations with the Sultan of Muscat [Sa'īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa'īd] over Khor Quwai; the removal of stores from Henjam; the question of the protection of British cemeteries at Henjam and Basidu (e.g. Iranian assurances, folio 126); descriptions of the evacuation of Henjam and Basidu in April 1935 in intelligence reports and correspondence; and the expression of gratitude by British Government to the Ruler of Bahrain (Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah [Shaikh Ḥamad bin ‘Īsá Āl Khalīfah]) over the assistance given by the Government of Bahrain in construction work for the new station at Bahrain (folios 39-54).
The Arabic language content of the file consists of a single item of correspondence on folio 40.
The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (572 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.
- 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 574; 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 and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script View the complete information for this record
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Coll 30/111 'British Naval Stations in: Establishments at Khor Quwai and Bahrain. Evacuation of Henjam and Basidu.' [103r] (210/1154), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3840, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100080227753.0x00000b> [accessed 7 June 2024]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/12/3840
- Title
- Coll 30/111 'British Naval Stations in: Establishments at Khor Quwai and Bahrain. Evacuation of Henjam and Basidu.'
- Pages
- 103r, 120r:121v
- Author
- Āl Bū Sa‘īd, Sa‘īd bin Taymūr
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