Annotated Copy of Persia and the Persian Question by George Curzon, with Inserted Papers [‎777r] (1570/1814)

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THE PERSIAN GULF The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. 451
1843, when it was prolonged for another ten years. Its merits
having been thus abundantly tested, it was, upon expiring in 1853,
succeeded by a Treaty of Perpetual Peace, which provided that there
should be a complete cessation of hostilities at sea between the
subjects of the subscribing parties ; that in the event of aggressions
on any one by sea the injured tribes should not retaliate, but should
refer the matter to the British Resident in the Persian Gull ; and
that the British Government should watch over the peace of the
Gulf, and ensure at all times the observance of the Treaty . 1 This
treaty is in operation at this hour ; and its terms are explanatory
at once of the happy results that have been produced, and of the
commanding position filled by the British Resident at Bushire. The
truce has not prevented, it was neither designed nor expected to
prevent, warfare by land. These petty tribes exist for little else
but internecine squabble, blood-fends, puny forays, and isolated acts
of outrage or revenge. With their internal relations Great Britain,
who claims no suzerainty over Arabia, would have been foolish to
interfere. All that she took upon herself to do was to secure the
maritime peace of the Gulf; and in spite of occasional infringe
ments of the treaty provisions, which are commonly punished by a
fine, enforced by the timely appearance of a British gunboat, and
never resisted by force of arms, she may reasonably congratulate
herself that that object has been secured . 2 Trade is prosecuted in
these waters with an immunity and security which, under any other
regime, would have been impossible. One or more gunboats are at
the disposal of the British Resident at Bushire, who has also a de
spatch boat for his own immediate use in the event of any emer
gency. Not a week passes but, by Persians and Arabs alike,
disputes are referred to his arbitration ; and he may with a greater
truth than the phrase sometimes conveys, be entitled the Uncrowned
King of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It says much for the tact and ability
with which Colonel Ross filled that office for the last twenty years
that so little friction ever resulted, and (though this sounds a dubious
compliment) that outside official circles so little was known of his
extensive prerogative at home. The distinction of the post he
1 Aitchison, vol. vii. No. xxvi.
- The slave traffic, in spite of every precaution, is not absolutely extinguished,
but is still prosecuted, by all manner of surreptitious devices, between the old
African slave ports and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . The return from the Mecca pilgrimage
is a favourite occasion for the clandestine importation of slaves. Several are still
rescued and freed every year by the exertions of the British gunboats.
g o 2