IOR/L/PS/5/261, ff 527-544

Despatch from the Foreign Department, Government of India, to the Secretary of State for India, No. 177 of 1868, dated 14 October 1868, including an abstract and enclosures numbered 3-5, dated 17 September-14 October 1868.

The enclosures relate to the question of the sovereignty of the Island of Angaum [Jaziereh-ye Hengam] and the claims of both Persia [Iran] and Muscat to the territory. Included is a review (with copies) by the Secretary to the Government of India of all the relevant correspondence that has taken place between the Government of Bombay, Sir Charles Alison HM, Minister at Teheran [Tehran], Lieutenant-Colonel Pelly, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, and the India Office, between April 1866 and July 1868. The following issues are covered:

• The question of whether Angaum is a dependency of Bunder Abbass [Bandar Abbas] or a direct possession of Persia, and consequently whether the matter is or is not settled by the re-lease of Bunder Abbass by Persia to Muscat
• The implications of Angaum not being explicitly mentioned in the original lease (referred to as ‘the 1855 Convention’), by Persia to Muscat, of Bundar Abbass and its dependencies
• Pelly’s opinion that Angaum, like Larack [Larak] Island and other islands in the south of the Gulf has no connection with the Bunder Abbass local Government, and his support of the claim of the Sultan of Muscat and his Minister to Angaum, which the latter two assert has belonged to Muscat since the foundation of the present ruling dynasty
• The Government of India’s conclusion that Angaum belongs to Persia, based on its analysis of correspondence concerning the proposal in 1866 to remove the Telegraph Station from Mussendom [Musandam] to the Island of Angaum, and the proposal to move the naval and coaling station at Bassadore (Basaidu, on the Island of Kishm, [Qeshm]) to Angaum or Jask
• The apparent annoyance of Alison at the Muscat Minister and Pelly having raised the question of Muscat’s independent right to Angaum: questioning the source of their claim; objecting to ‘threatening’ language used by the Muscat Minister; asserting that they cannot provide proof of Muscat’s title; and insisting that both the Home Authorities and Government of India consider that Angaum belongs to Persia
• A proposal for a specially appointed British official to arbitrate in the matter, on condition that both Persia and Muscat agree to abide by the decision.

The principal correspondents are: the Secretary to the Government of Bombay; the Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department; Pelly; and Alison.