‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎291r] (580/949)

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Reply of Sis Excellency the Viceroy to an Address cf Welcome presented
to him at Bunder Alias on 22 nd November 1903 , on board the R. /.
M. S. “ Hardinge”, by a deputation of the British Indian subjects
and traders residing there.
tiX. Ilf
Gentlemen ,—In thanking you for your address, let me express my pleasure
at meeting here a community of British Indian subjects of His Majesty the
King-Emperor, enjoying the hospitality of a foreign and friendly land, and
engaged in a trade which is equally beneficial to this country and to yourselves.
I am glad that Persia returns the compliment by sending a large number ot her
own gifted and intelligent subjects to trade in the ports of British India; lor
these relations are merely the continuance in modern times of a connection
between Iran and India that has lasted for centuries, and that is based not
merely upon geographical proximity, but upon original affinities of civilisation*
language, and race. Bunder Abbas, both under its present name and under its
former title of Gombrun, has also been intimately bound up with the history
of British mercantile enterprise in Persia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and I suppose
that there is hardly a scene in the world that has witnessed more struggles for
commercial supremacy, or has experienced more startling vicissitudes of political
fortune, than the waters and islands that we can see from this very spot.
Should any one enquire why the Viceroy of India, while in the discharge
of the duties of his office, should visit this place, the answer may be found in
the facts which I have already mentioned, namely, in the uninterrupted histori
cal connection which has existed between this locality and India for hundreds
of years, and in the residence here of a flourishing colony of British Indian
traders and trade. But the explanation goes much further than that, both in
its local and in its general application ; for here we are at the mouth of a sea
which has been one of the main and most beneficent areas of British exertion
in the continent of Asia. The great maritime highway of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
has never failed to attract those nations who held, or aspired to hold, the ports
of India ; and having embarked upon the Indian enterprise in which thev
ultimately out-distanced all other competitors, it fell naturallv to the British to
pursue their successful activity in this direction, and thus gradually to acquire
an ascendency of trade and interest in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. which has never
wavered until the present day, and which has been so far from selfish in its
operation that it has brought wealth and security to the States and communities
that are to be found upon these shores, has smoothed the path of every ship that
navigates these waters, and has won for us the friendship and gratitude of the
principal Governments, such as that of His Majesty the Shah, with whom we
have been brought in contact.
The ascendancy of which I have spoken is demonstrated by the fact that
out of a total value of trade in the Gulf—including under that designation the
ports on the Arab as well as on the Persian coast, and embracing Mohammera
m the latter, hut not including Busra—amounting to nearly 6£ millions ster
ling in the last recorded year, 1901 , close upon 5 millions of which was external
trade, that is, trade with ports outside the Gulf, tbe British percentage of this
external trade was 77 , and the corresponding percentage of British "steamers
leaving and entering the Gulf ports was 97 . If we restrict our observations to
the Persian ports alone, we find that the total volume of trade in 1901 was close
upon millions sterling, of which £ 4 , 23:.',000 was external, and that of the
latter the British proportion was 06 per cent., and of the shipping bv which it
was carried 97 per cent. These figures show that, even in the much more acute
competition that now prevails, the commercial superiority so long enioved hv
Great Britain in these seas still exists, if not unchallenged, at least unimpaired
Un the other hand there are circumstances in the trade and position of Bunder
Abbas which shew that the keenest efforts will be required to retain for this
port the advantages 'which it has hitherto enjoyed.
3101 F. D.