IOR/L/PS/10/663/2

This part contains papers relating to the provision of a despatch vessel for the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to transport him on his regular tours of the Persian Gulf, and his occasional visits to places on the Arabian coast in order to deal with events as they arise.

It includes papers relating to the following:

• The proposal of the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf and the Government of India that the steam ship Patrick Stewart should be hired from the Indo-European Telegraph Department for the use of the Political Resident for his normal touring periods
• The Government of India’s proposal that the Colonial Office should be asked to contribute towards the cost of hiring the Patrick Stewart
• The question of what arrangements would be made for the Resident’s tours in the Gulf following the transfer of the Patrick Stewart from the Indo-European Telegraph Department to the Communications Company (Imperial and International Communications Limited)
• The proposed purchase of the Patrick Stewart by the Government of India
• The Government of India’s position that owing to the need for financial stringency they were unable to purchase the Patrick Stewart or any other vessel for the use of the Political Resident as a despatch vessel
• The Admiralty being unable to agree to the suggestion that HMS Triad might be borrowed occasionally by the Political Resident
• The Admiralty agreeing to the India Office proposal to place on a formal basis the hitherto informal arrangements for making sloops available, through the Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf, for the transport of the Resident.

The papers mostly consist of correspondence and India Office Political Department minute papers.

The main correspondents are as follows: the India Office; the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department; the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf; the India Store Department of the Office of the High Commissioner for India; the Admiralty; the Foreign Office; Imperial and International Communications Limited; and the Agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company Limited, Bombay.

The papers also include a photograph of the steam ship Patrick Stewart (folio 530A).