'PRINCIPAL DESPATCHES AND CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO PERSIA CONNECTED WITH THE SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND MEASURES OF VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDDLESTON IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. JANUARY 1899 TO NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV-PART IV. PERSIA.' [‎32r] (68/136)

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and Indian Governments ; and we are prepared to undertake the annual outlay
that may be required for up-keep and repairs, and for the provision of a
substitute for the present native agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. , during the time that the Resident is
living at Bushire.
82. We are heartily in accord with Sir M. Durand in thinking that a British
officer should be appointed to Bunder Abbas, with charge of the Gulf ports
east of Bushire, and of British interests in the maritime provinces of South
eastern Persia. The necessity of such an appointment was mooted, as long ago as
1879, by Colonel Ross, at that time British Resident at Bushire. It was raised
again in 1882,1884,1885,1888 and 1892, and on the majority of these occasions
was supported by petitions from the not insignificant Hindu and Khoja popula
tion engaged in trade at Bunder Abbas. In 1893, the appointment as Vice-
Consul of an Englishman engaged in business at that port was agreed to by
the Government of India and was sanctioned by the Secretary of State (Lord
Kimberley), but was subsequently dropped upon the inexplicable grounds that
the estimated cost of Rs. 50 a month or £40 a year could not be saved out of
the Bushire 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. funds. In 1896, the question was again discussed
between the Government of India and the Resident (Colonel Wilson); and the
former so far departed from their former attitude as to say that the proposal
must be held over until the normal conditions of trade had been restored^ by
the withdrawal of the Russian sanitary cordon. These conditions have since
been fulfilled, and we are prepared to look with a more favourable eye upon a
proposal, the intrinsic recommendations of which are not open to dispute.
We are willing to accept the financial responsibility for the proposed appoint
ment, although we think that it may be possible to meet it without additional
cost by the transfer to Bunder Abbas of the Political Assistant now stationed
at Meshed. Sir M. Durand suggests that the officer appointed to this post
should pass the summer months at Yezd (Bunder Abbas being an impossible
site of residence during the hot season), taking the place there of the present
unpaid Commercial Vice-Consul. Upon this point we would propose to consult
Her Majesty’s Consul at Kerman, which is in close connection with Bunder
Abbas and the coast; and we will submit to Your Lordship at a later date our
final views upon this subject.
83. Sir M. Durand mentions, as a matter affecting exclusively the Govern
ment of India, the possible appointment of a British officer at Bahrein. We
do not hesitate to state to Your Lordship that such an appointment is in our
opinion both desirable and obligatory. Trouble, similar to that which we have
already incurred in Maskat, is brewing in Bahrein, the treaty engagements of
which petty State with Her Majesty’s Government provide no legitimate
excuse for such complications. It is necessary to anticipate them by placing
a British officer permanently in the island; and we are at the present time
awaiting Colonel Meade’s definite proposals on the matter. We are inclined
to think that it will probably be sufficient to nominate an officer of a sub
ordinate class. Erom time to time he will also visit Koweit. It remains to be
decided whether he should also have under his political jurisdiction the Trucial
Chiefs of the Arab or Pirate coast, or whether these should be placed under
the officer at Bunder Abbas. W r e incline to the former opinion, but reserve this
matter for subsequent decision.
84. We have now dealt with each one of Sir M. Durand’s specific pro
posals, and have stated our own views in support, in amendment, or in
supplement of them. It remains for us to mention some additional proposals
of our own, and to comment upon certain independent suggestions submitted
by Her Majesty’s Minister. We entertain, and have already in the present
year acted upon, the opinion that Her Majesty’s naval forces should be more
strongly and frequently represented than they have hitherto been in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and that there should be recurrent visits from the Admiral of the
East Indian station. During the past spring Admiral Douglas, at the request
of the Viceroy, paid such a visit, and his presence was of material assistance
during the recent crisis at Maskat. We are doubtful of the wisdom of the
existing system, under which the political charge of the Makran coast, and the