IOR/L/PS/5/261, ff 507-526

Despatch from the Foreign Department, Government of India, to the Secretary of State for India, No. 158 of 1868, dated 22 September 1868, including an abstract and enclosures numbered 3-13 dated 24 July-7 September 1868.

The enclosures relate to the re-lease of Bunder Abbass [Bandar-e ‘Abbas] by Persia [Iran] to the Muscat State and the involvement of Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Pelly, Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, in the negotiation of terms with the Prince-Governor of Fars, at Shiraz. The following matters are covered:

• Communications by Sir Charles Alison, HM Minister at Teheran [Tehran], to Pelly, updating him on the policy of the Government of Persia and the Shah [Shāh] regarding the re-leasing of Bunder Abbass to Muscat
• Pelly’s reports to the Government of Bombay regarding: the agreement by Syud Salim [Sayyid Sālim bin Thuwaynī Āl Bū Sa‘īd], Sultan of Muscat, to Pelly negotiating on his behalf at Shiraz; the Persian Government’s decline of Pelly’s offer of mediation; Pelly’s view that Persia is averse to re-leasing Bunder Abbass to the Sultan of Muscat and is employing delaying tactics in order to reinforce the town; and Pelly’s view that Muscat would make a naval show of strength to make Persia come to terms
• Confirmation by Pelly of ratification of the lease on 4 August 1868, which has been renewed for eight years, instead of seven originally proposed, and for a lump sum payment by Muscat of 30,000 tomans instead of the 25,000 originally offered by the Muscat State’s Agent
• The explicit claim by the Sultan of Muscat to the islet of Angaum [Jazireh-ye Hengam] and his willingness to cede it to the British on condition that his vessels can continue to anchor in its harbour and can ship and land cargo free of all duty or other charges
• The Government of India’s willingness to hear the Sultan’s evidence supporting his Angaum claim, despite having always treated it as Persian territory.

The principal correspondents are: the Secretary to the Government of Bombay; the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department; Pelly; Alison. Also included are translations of letters by the Sultan of Muscat and his Wuzeer [Vizier] Hajee Ahmed [Ḥājjī Aḥmad].