IOR/L/PS/9/68/232

Copy of a letter from Major-General Sir William Grant Keir, aboard Transport Orient off Ras ul Khyma [Ra’s al-Khaymah], to HM Chargé d'Affaires to Persia [Iran], Henry Willock, dated January 1820. The letter concerns the ongoing British expedition against the al-Qawasim and their allies, accused by the British of piracy, including the signature of a General Treaty [General Treaty with the Arab Tribes of the Persian Gulf] and Preliminary Treaties with the rulers of the Arabian coast.

Originally enclosed with this letter were copies of the General Treaty (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/233) and the Preliminary Treaties (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/236-240), and the translation of a letter from the Prince of Sheeraz [Shiraz] to the Governor of Bombay (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/234).

The letter also details a joint plan between the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat and the Prince of Sheeraz for the occupation of Bharein [Bahrain], including discussions of:

• The possible provision of ships by the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat to the Prince of Sheeraz
• The Imaum of Muscat’s plan to make an independent attack on Bharein
• The Prince of Sheeraz’s request to Grant Keir, originally enclosed with this letter, for ships with which to transport his army to Bharein (not included in this item, see IOR/L/PS/9/68/235).

The letter was enclosed in Willock’s letter to the Secret Committee of the East India Company of 6 March 1820 (see IOR/L/PS/9/68/231), which was received on 13 July 1820.