IOR/L/PS/5/230, ff 34-59

This part of the volume consists of copies of enclosures to a secret despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department to the Secret Committee, Number 5 of 1857, dated 9 January 1857. The enclosures are numbered 3-14 and are dated 7 December 1856-7 January 1857.

The initial enclosure consists of a minute of the Governor-General of India, dated 7 January 1857, containing a narrative of the Persian Gulf Expedition to date and listing further steps to be taken in execution of the Secret Committee’s orders. The minute is followed by correspondence, with relevant enclosures, between: Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram (Outram’s letters are written sequentially from London, Suez, Malta and the Red Sea between November and December 1856); the Secretary to the Government of India; and the Secretary to the Government of Bombay.

The papers cover and include the following:

• The replacement of Major-General Foster Stalker, Commanding the Expeditionary Field Force, with Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, in order to unite the military and diplomatic functions in ‘one head’ in negotiating the dispute between England and Persia [Iran]
• Outram’s suggestions that Stalker be given credit for taking Bushire [Bushehr] and, if he wants, remains in command at Bushire whilst Outram goes on to Mohumbra [Khorramshahr, also spelled Mohambra in this item] or Shuster [Shushtar, also spelled Shoostur in this item]
• The appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel John Jacob to Outram’s service in Persia, with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General
• Outram’s recent correspondence with Robert Vernon Smith MP, President of the Board of Control, setting out his proposed military and political strategy incorporating: reinforcements of 5000 men to be sent to the Gulf and the composition of the force; the importance of establishing military camps at Shuster and Kisht [Kish?] (after capturing Bushire and Mohumbra), as healthier locations for European troops during the hot season; Outram’s military administration requirements; and the demands Outram considers should be made of the Shah [Shāh] of Persia in return for withdrawing British forces from the Gulf
• Outram’s aim of ‘menacing invasion’ in the Persian interior on two fronts by threatening Ispahan [Isfahan] and Shiraz, which he believes would ‘terrify the Shah into submission’ (f 45)
• Outram’s proposals to form an ‘Army of Herat’, should it be necessary to transfer the field of war from Persia to Afghanistan to expel the Persians from Herat
• Details of the allowances to be granted to Outram above his allowance as Commissioner of Oude [Oudh, or Awadh].