IOR/L/PS/5/369, ff 72-103

This item comprises enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee: Bombay Secret Letter 1 June 1821. The enclosures are dated 2 April-21 May 1821.

The item comprises an extract of the proceedings of the Bombay Government and correspondence, with relevant enclosures, between: Captain William Bruce, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire [Bushehr]; Lieutenant-Colonel Brackley Kennett, Officer Commanding and Acting Political Agent, Bassadore, Kishm [Basaidu, Qeshm]; the Government of Bombay; and Henry Willock, HM Chargé d’Affaires in Tahran [Tehran].

The subjects covered are:

• The Government of Bombay’s policy regarding the ‘difficult’ diplomatic situation at Kishm, including: a proposal to send 400 European soldiers to reinforce Lieutenant-Colonel Kennett’s detachment on the island; authority for Kennett to fortify his position at Bassadore or wherever he considers best; arrangements for the naval force in the Gulf to be enhanced with additional cruisers and put on standby in the event of an attack by Persia [Iran]; permission for the detachment’s evacuation to Muscat as a last resort; extensive efforts to obtain intelligence from the mainland regarding Persia’s plans; notification of all relevant parties of the Bombay Government’s position; and instructions to Willock to ensure these measures do not cause any alarm in Tehran
• Preparations by Captain Bruce in case of a Persian attack, including his communications with Kennett
• Preparations by Kennett in case of an attack on his ‘small and exposed force’ by Persia, particularly in light of rumours of a force assembled at Bunder Abbas [Bandar Abbas] and the likelihood that the Imaum [Imam] of Muscat will, if severely pressured by Persia, back down from opposing the Shah of Persia
• Willock’s intention to leave Tahran due to threats on his life (decapitation) following his refusal to make further advances of an annual subsidy to the Shah, including copies of his correspondence with the Persian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mirza (also spelled Meerza in this item) Abdul Wahab [Mīrzā ‘Abd al-Wahhāb Nishāṭ Iṣfahānī], 26-31 March 1822 (ff 87-95), and ‘Notes of messages and information collected regarding the occurrences at Tehran form 28th March’ providing intricate details of the affair (ff 96-101).