‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎355r] (708/949)

25
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT, SECRET E., JUNE 1904.
Establishment of Telegraphic communication with Henjam.
Telegram, No. 2624-E. A, dated the 3rd November 1903.
From The Foreign Secretary, Simla,
To His Excellency Rear-Admiral G. Atkinson-Willfs, Bombay
6 ' 2 ' 0oM ” 16 “' Kemp-SomeMillo ^
Pro. No- 32]
No. 73-C., dated Viceroy’s Camp, the 2nd December 1903.
From-The Secretary to the Government o£ India, Foreign Department,
To IIis Excellency li car-Admiral G. Atkinson-W irTRR tCai.ni rx.n. , .
Chief, East India Station. - aT ™ 0H ‘^s, Natal Commander-m-
Pro. No. 322-
, l am desired to refer to your letters No. 872, dated 6 th September 1003 .
a !? d N °b 1 872 ( S ! C )’ da ^ <i October 1903, on the subject of the recent surveys
of possible ports on the Persian Coast of the Gulf and of an additional cable
station in those waters.
2. As you are aware, the desirability of establishing such a cable station
for naval purposes has been accepted by all parties; and the sole question that
remains for decision appears to be whether it should be located L originally
proposed by the Government of India at Henjam, where we had such a s atinn
from 18C9 to 1881, or at Bassidore, which is a British possession and was
considered to be more suitable by the Admiralty. It would appear from
the correspondence that has been forwarded to us, that the question has been
regarded by the Naval officers in the Gulf, whose reports we have seen and
aiso by the Admiralty at home, in relation to the selection of a defended naval
port in the Gulf, rather than of a station for purposes of telegraphic commu
nication These considerations may coincide, but, on the other hand, they may
be widely different. The place that is most suitable for a naval anchorage and
establishment may he unsuitable for a cable station, and vice versa. It is
however, the latter and not the former contingency that is mainly involved in
the present case: and it is with this object in view that I am directed especiallv
to solicit your advice. r J
3. At the same time the question of naval bases, ports of call, or coaling
stations m the Gulf is one of supreme importance to British interests; and I am
also to enquire whether you have any observations or recommendations to make
upon this subject to the Government of India as the result of your present
cruise in the Gulf. ^
No. 1295, dated Hyacinth at Bushire, the 3rd December 1903 (Confidential).
From—His Excellency Rear-Admiral G. Atkinson-Wjlles, Naval Commander- ^ r °‘ ^
in-Chief, East India Station,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
In reply to your letter of yesterday’s date, No. 73-C., upon the subject of
the suitability of ports in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. as naval bases, coaling and telegraph
stations, be pleased to bring the following remarks to the notice of His Excel
lency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India in Council.
2. After visiting Henjam and Bassidore, I have no hesitation in saying that
the former is the more suitable for a telegraph and signal station. It is easy
of approach from either side of the strait, and although not a place which
could be transformed into a naval station, it is well fitted for a war signal