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1. 'Position and Rights of His Majesty's Government in Basidu'
- Description:
- Abstract: Memorandum providing an overview of the British connection with Basidu [Bāsa ‘īdū](on the island of Kishm [Qeshm]) in terms of status and rights from c 1820-1928. Covering:introduction to the location of Basidu and its strategic importance;extent of the British Concession;status of Basidu – control by the Imam of Muscat, British settlement, Persian protest against British occupation, recognition of Kishm as Persian territory, and the legal position of Basidu;1868-1926 – consideration of British options, and the decisions made;1926-28 reassertion of Persian claims – status of concessions including coaling stations, and the Persian threat to occupy British Basidu August-September 1928, and resulting British naval precautions.It includes a summary detailing the legal position in regard to Basidu and the value of retaining the coaling station. In addition, a list of points referred to in connection with the Persian Gulf Sub-Committee, and the view expressed by the Government of India are also given.Written by John Gilbert Laithwaite of the India Office.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at f 57, and terminates at f 59, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
2. Letters and a Manuscript Regarding Railways in Persia, and Letters and Photographs from Commander H A Phillips
- Description:
- Abstract: The file contains a letter from Cecil Spring Rice, British Chargé d’Affaires, Tehran, to George Nathaniel Curzon, Viceroy of India, dated 20 October 1900, forwarding a letter in French addressed to Curzon from Fabius Boital, dated 16 October 1900, regarding a concession for railways in Persia, and a manuscript volume written by Boital addressed to Curzon entitled ‘Chemins de fer de la Perse’ (Railways of Persia).The file also contains two letters from Commander H A Phillips of HMS Sphinx, to Colonel Malcolm John Meade, dated 18 and 22 June 1901, concerning matters including a request from Shaikh Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ, Ruler of Kuwait, to Charles Arnold Kemball, Acting Chief Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, for British protection. The letter dated 18 June 1901 includes six enclosed photographs of Basidu [Bāsa‘īdū] in Iran [Mss Eur F111/354, f 3; Mss Eur F111/354, f 4; Mss Eur F111/354, f 6; Mss Eur F111/354, f 7; Mss Eur F111/354, f 8; Mss Eur F111/354, f 9] with the comment by Phillips ‘I enclose a few photos of Basidu perhaps if you get a chance of shewing [sic] them to the Viceroy. I believe Hunt sent in a report of the place the other day and these photos might be useful.’In addition, the file includes a card with the reference number ‘EUR.F.111/352.’ and ‘Miss M.R. Jack.’ written on it, with the date 8 June 1964.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 54; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
3. Coll 30/103 'Basidu: Position of the inhabitants of Basidu in the event of evacuation by His Majesty's Government.'
- Description:
- Abstract: The file concerns discussions over the position of the inhabitants of Basidu [on the island of Qeshm], in the event of its evacuation by the British Government. Basidu was a former naval depot that had been under British control since [circa] 1820. However, in the opinion of the Law Officers, Britain had only a 'shadowy' claim to Basidu; and when the Government of Persia decided to claim Basidu as Persian territory, Britain decided to arrange for the evacuation of those inhabitants who wished to leave. The evacuation, and the hauling down of the British flag, took place on 12 April 1935 (folio 10).The papers cover: discussion of British rights over Basidu; consideration of the effect of British withdrawal on the inhabitants; the visit of Persian officials and the taking by them of a census of the inhabitants; agreement with the proposal of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf that £400 should be made available for the costs of the evacuation (half to be paid by HM Treasury, half by the Government of India); the conscription of local persons by the Persian authorities; and arrangements for the final evacuation of Basidu by the Royal Navy.The file includes correspondence from HM Minister, Tehran; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the Foreign Office; and British naval officials.The French language content of the papers consists of a single folio (a suggested addition to article V of the General Treaty, on folio 193).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.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 204; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 2-203; these numbers are printed.
4. Coll 30/111 'British Naval Stations in: Establishments at Khor Quwai and Bahrain. Evacuation of Henjam and Basidu.'
- Description:
- Abstract: 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 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 in the Persian Gulf (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.Physical description: 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 side of each folio.
5. Coll 30/61 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations: Arrest of Persian Mudir of Customs (Status of Basidu) at Basidu'
- Description:
- Abstract: This file contains correspondence between British naval and diplomatic officials regarding the arrest of the Government of Persia's Mudir [Head] of Customs at Basidu by British forces stationed there. The Mudir was arrested after claiming Basidu - where Britain operated a coaling station - and its waters as Persian territory. As well as the immediate impact of the incident itself, the correspondence also discusses the broader issue of the status of Basidu and relations between Britain and Persia. In addition to this correspondence, a small selection of press cuttings related to the incident and Anglo-Persian relations more generally are present in the file (including one article in French on folio 71).The file also contains the following:'Order and Practices for the Office in Charge of Naval Guard - British Basidu' (folios 484-487)A small blue print tracing of Basidu (folio 363)A detailed account of the Mudir's arrest at Basidu with multiple items of evidence and enclosures (folios 357-376)'Committee of Imperial Defence. Standing Ministerial Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East. Minutes of the Fifth Meeting of the Sub-Committee held in the Room of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the House of Commons, on Tuesday, November 28th, 1933, at 3.0 p.m.' (folios 157-172).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.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 615; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
6. Coll 30/58 'Persian Gulf. Anglo-Persian Relations. Persian insult to British flag at Basidu'
- Description:
- Abstract: This file contains correspondence between British diplomatic and naval officials concerning an incident on 31 July 1933 when four Persian naval officers landed at Basidu (a naval station on Qishm island used by Britain) and took down the British flag in the presence of witnesses including an Italian and a Frenchman. Subsequently, a Royal Navy vessel arrived at the station and the British flag was re-hoisted.The correspondence discusses the details of the incident itself, its aftermath and its impact on Britain's relations with the Government of Iran. It also covers what steps were taken to 'restore British prestige in the eyes of the Gulf Arabs', including details regarding the dispatch of a royal navy flotilla to the region.In addition to correspondence, the file also contains the following:Relevant press cuttings regarding the incident and Britain's response (folios 78, 169, 311 and 364)Copy of a circular clarifying the sequence of events in Basidu that was issued by the British authorities in the Gulf (folio 11)'Copy of a note dated the 14th August 1933, from the Head Clerk, H.B.M.'s Consulate, Bandar Abbas, regarding a conversation which recently took place between the Governor of Bandar Abbas and the Consulate Mirza' (folio 255)'Basidu Incident' a summary of events written by J V Creagh, Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf (folios 329-331)'Extract from Cabinet Conclusions dated 5th September 1933 - Relations with Persia, Basidu Incident' (folios 370-376)'Legal Status of Basidu' (folios 398-399)'Cabinet: Relations with Persia - Basidu Incident. Memorandum by the First Lord of the Admiralty' (folios 413-415)Cabinet Memorandum regarding Basidu Incident (folios 416-417)'Foreign Office Memorandum for submission to the Cabinet on the subject of the Flag Incident at Basidu' (folios 435-440)A small sketch map marking the boundaries of 'British Basidu' (folio 536).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.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 591; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
7. File 4011/1923 Pt 1 'PERSIAN GULF NEGOTIATIONS 1928-33. BASIDU.'
- Description:
- Abstract: This volume relates to the British occupation of Basidu, situated on Kishm [Qeshm] Island in the Gulf, close to the south coast of Persia [Iran], and occupied by the British since the early 1820s. It is stated in the correspondence that the site had been used mainly as a coal depot for British naval vessels until 1913, and that since then it has been retained on 'political grounds', as a potential bargaining asset in negotiations with Persia.The correspondence primarily concerns the British claim (or lack thereof) to Basidu, in the event of the Persian Government questioning Britain's ongoing occupation. It covers the history of Basidu's status and the various existing agreements that relate to it, as part of an attempt by the British to gather documentary evidence to support their claim. Also discussed are a number of reported incidents at Basidu, involving British representatives and the local Persian authorities, mainly regarding customs, taxes, and the presence of the British naval guard. In addition, the correspondence touches on Anglo-Persian relations in general, with occasional references being made to ongoing treaty negotiations between the two countries.The volume's principal correspondents are as follows: the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the British Minister in Tehran; the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf; officials of the India Office, the Foreign Office, the Admiralty, and the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department. Other notable but less frequent correspondents include the following: the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India; the Viceroy of India; the Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Station; the Law Officers of the Crown.Included with the correspondence are several related documents, including the following: two sketch maps (f 622); copies (in English and Arabic) of a treaty dated 1856 between Muscat and Persia, in which the Imam of Muscat acknowledges Kishm Island as being part of the Persian Empire (f 179 and ff 221-223); draft and final copies of an India Office memorandum dated 18 October 1933, outlining Britain's understanding of the history of the status of Basidu from 1720 to 1928, including extracts from nineteenth century reports and related correspondence (ff 46-54 and ff 123-159); a submission of reference, prepared by the India Office and the Foreign Office, for the Law Officers of the Crown, requesting the latter's legal opinion on the strength of the British claim to Basidu (ff 43-45 and ff 67-83); a copy of a secret report on Basidu, prepared by the Commander-in-Chief at the East Indies Station, containing extracts from the East Indies Station's records and notes from the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf (ff 16-38).The Arabic language material consists of the aforementioned treaty text. The material written in French consists of small extracts from correspondence and treaty articles. It should be noted that there is no material covering the years 1924 and 1925.The volume includes two dividers, which give a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. These are placed at the back of the correspondence (ff 4-5).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 651; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.