Abstract: This file contains correspondence regarding the construction of a British naval base at Khor Kuwai (occasionally spelt Quwai in the file) in Oman in 1936 and its subsequent closure in 1947. The correspondence is primarily between officials at the India Office, the Admiralty, the Political Residency, the Foreign Office and the Political Agency in Muscat.In addition, the file contains correspondence concerning the construction of a pier at the British naval base in Jufair, Bahrain (folios 25-31).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 front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 69; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence concerning the Naval Wireless Station at Bahrain.The papers include: correspondence from the India Office, the Admiralty, and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf concerning the installation of a wireless receiving and transmitting set at the Jufair naval base, 1940-41; correspondence from the same bodies concerning the non-commercial nature of the wireless traffic at the naval station at Bahrain, in response to a complaint from Cable and Wireless Limited that the station was acting to the commercial detriment of the company, 1941; and correspondence and two title deeds (in Arabic) concerning the exchange by the British Government of a parcel of land at Qudhaibiyah, Manamah, in the vicinity of the southern end of the golf course, for a property belonging to the Shaikh of Bahrain at Umm al Hassan, Manamah, in order to allow the necessary separation between the transmitters and receivers at the base, 1944.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 last folio with 26; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This file contains correspondence between British officials relating to the purchase of land in Bahrain for the use of the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force as a potential replacement for Britain's naval base on Henjam [Hengam] Island in Iran.Copies of the minutes from several meetings of the Committee of Imperial Defence's 'Standing Official Sub-Committee for Questions Concerning the Middle East' that took place throughout 1933 are also included in the file.In addition, the file contains several maps of Bahrain (on folios 119-122, 231-232, 348, 413 and 421) and the following:'Fishtrap at Bahrain' a simple illustration (folio 35)'Notes of meeting with Mr C. Dalrymple Belgrave, Adviser to the Shaikh of Bahrain, 23rd July 1934' (folios 101-105)Government of Bahrain document confirming sale of land to the British Government (folios 157-158)'Anglo Persian Relations. Naval Station in the Persian Gulf. Memorandum by the First Lord of the Admiralty', 1933 (folios 223-228)'Notes of Meeting called to consider the question of purchase of lease of land at Bahrein on 6th November 1933' (folios 245-254)'Committee of Imperial Defence. Persian Gulf Sub-Committee. The Persian Gulf. Report by Chiefs of Staff' 1928 (folios 367-371)'Oil Concession signed by the Shaikh of Bahrein in favour of the Eastern and General Syndicate on the 2nd December 1925' (folios 416-419)'Memorandum by Admiralty and Foreign Office, dated 23rd February, 1932 on the subject of the British Naval Depot at Henjam' (folios 447-458).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 475; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The file contains correspondence from the Foreign Office, HM Minister, Tehran, and officials of the Persian Government concerning the import of naval stores into the Royal Indian Marine (RIM) [Royal Indian Navy] depot at Henjam.The Government of Persia refused to allow import of the stores free of duty, and refused to recognise the existence of the naval depot, as they could find no legal basis for its existence. The papers show that British officials were reluctant to press for the stores to be allowed in duty-free in case the Persians renewed their demand made in 1932 for the complete evacuation of the Henjam base.The file contains approximately five folios of diplomatic correspondence in French between officials of the British and Persian Governments.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 first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 33; these numbers are printed, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.
Abstract: This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee: Bombay Secret Letter 25 May 1821. The enclosures are dated 20 December 1820-12 May 1821. (Attached to folio 5 is a note, f 5a, stating that the ‘Enclosure in Bombay Secret Letter of 18th October 1820 is missing’).The initial enclosure (numbered 1) is a letter dated 10 February 1820 from George Swinton, Secretary to the Government at Fort William, to Francis Warden, Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, conveying the Governor-General’s pleasure that the threatened rupture of relations between the British Government and the Ameers of Sind [Amirs of Sindh] has been averted and a treaty negotiated, and approbation of Captain Sadler who was sent as an envoy to Hyderabad to restore good relations.The remaining enclosures, with their relevant enclosures, are: despatches from Henry Willock, HM Chargé d’Affaires in Tahran [Tehran] to the Marquis of Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal; despatches from H R Deschamps, Acting Political Agent and Captain Commanding at Kishma [Qeshm, also spelled Kishm and Kishmee in this item], to Francis Warden; and instructions issued by Warden to Dr Andrew Jukes with relevant enclosures. They relate to the complaint by Persia [Iran] about the British occupation of the island of Kishm, and comprise the following groups of papers:(1) Willock’s correspondence with the Persian Prime Minister and with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which Willock disputes the Persian contentions on the following points:Whether the occupation of Kishm is a violation of Article 11 of the Treaty between Persia and Britain (prohibiting British ships of war going to Persian ports without express permission)Whether the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat, had the right to authorize the relocation of the British detachment at Rosul-Khyma [Ra's al-Khaymah, also spelled Ras-sol-Khyma in this item] to Kishm and Hengaum [Hengam] and if Muscat is a dependency of Bunder Abassi [Bandar Abbas] and hence of PersiaWhether it is the prerogative of the Prince of Fars to take steps to prevent ‘piracy’ (of the Joasemees [al-Qawāsim]) and ensure security in the Persian Gulph [Gulf] or if a permanent British naval presence was and is more effectiveWhether Captain William Bruce, Political Resident in the Persian Gulph [Gulf], should be removed from his post (and pay reparation for damaged and lost property) for interfering at Bahrein [Bahrain] in efforts to suppress ‘piracy’ which were the business of the Prince of Sheraz [Shiraz] and the Imaum of Muscat; and for being responsible for the ‘unwarranted’ seizing of the arms of 300 men of Lingua [Bandar-e-Lengeh] and fourteen of their boats which were all destroyed following a storm, and for the burning of ships at the port of Charack [Bandar-e Chārak, also spelled Charak in this item], in alleged retaliation for attacks on British subjects.The correspondence also covers Willock’s attempts to: dissuade or delay the sending of Persian representatives to Kishm and Bombay, respectively, to ask the British to leave Kishm and to remonstrate over the occupation to the Government of India; and to exonerate Captain Bruce from responsibility for the events at Lingua and Charack.(2) Letters from the Acting Political Agent and Captain Commanding at Kishma, to the Chief Secretary to the Government, Bombay, reporting that he has placated the vakeel sent with a letter (ff 29-30) by the Hussin Ally, Prince of Shiraz [Husayn 'Ali Mīrzā Farmānfarmā, Prince-Governor of Fārs] and that he has received intelligence that the Prince is amassing a force of 12,000 near Bunderabbas [Bandar Abbas], which could not be repulsed by the small British military establishment on the island (detailed on f 30).(3) Detailed background and instructions (ff 34-43) to Dr Jukes issued by the Government of Bombay for his mission to the Persian Gulph in which he is to allay the claims and suspicions of Persia and conduct himself as the situation, however it develops, may warrant. In particular Jukes is instructed: to investigate the claims of the Imaum of Muscat and Persia to the island of Kishma; verify whether the Prince of Shiraz has amassed a force near Bunder Abbas; direct the detachment to withdraw to Muscat if hostilities look inevitable; how to act with regard to Captain Bruce; to be the Political Agent at Kishme on the recall of Captain Thompson. The instructions are accompanied by copies of letters of authority, introduction and information (ff 44-65), including: letters from the Government of Bombay addressed to Willock, the King [Shah] of Persia, the Prince of Sheeraz [Shiraz] and the Imaum of Muscat; detailed report by Major-General Lionel Smith, dated 23 April 1821, on the advantages of Kishme and how to best use it to check ‘piracy’ and in general how to police the Gulph (ff 48-57); and letters to the Officer Commanding the Troops and Acting Political Agent, and the Officer Commanding HC [Honourable Company] Cruisers at Kishm.The last enclosure ends with a list of the four enclosures comprising Bombay Secret Letter 25 May 1821.Physical description: The despatch comprises enclosures numbered 1-4. The enclosure number is written for reference on the verso of the last folio of each enclosure.
Abstract: The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes relating to the creation of a coal depot at Henjam Island, alongside the existing telegraph station.The discussion in the volume relates to the handling of relations with the Persian government in connection with the development of the coal depot at Henjam. Discussion centres on how British proposals could be best communicated, including the negotiating strategy involving Henjam and the naval base at Bassidu.Further discussion surrounds plans and estimates; piers and infrastructure, protection, funding and accounting as well as the erection of a flagstaff.Correspondents include the Viceroy; Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; Under Secretary of State, India Office; Government of Indian, Marine Department; Director, Royal Indian Marine; and the Senior Naval Officer Persian Gulf.Each part includes a divider which gives the subject and part numbers, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references, contained in that part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 215; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.