OCR Text |
Show LORD CURZON MAKES A POINTED ADDRESS TO ARAB CHIEFTAINS Bunder Abbas. Persia. Nov. 23. While on his way here, the viceroy of India, Lord Cur2on, held a durbar at Shargah. which was attended by many prominent Arab chiefs of that coast. He made i significant speech, reaffirming the in- tention of Great Britain to maintain her supremacy in the Persian gulf, and declared de-clared the government adhered to its policv of guardianship and protection of the "chiefs. The viceroy ' reminded the chiefs of their engagements not to enter into agreements or correspondence with j any other power than Great Britain, not j to 'admit agents of any other government and not to alienate any part of their ( territory. If the 'chiefs adhered to thcf engagements as they had done in the past no one would be allowed to Uimper v.itii their rights and liberties. The vicero..-' vicero..-' concluded with emphasizing that the influence in-fluence of the British government, wlii- ii maintained the independence of tin-chiefs tin-chiefs and made the gulf secure to tint ships: of all nations, must remain supreme. su-preme. The speech of the viceroy to the Britisn Indian traders who have arrived her-; similarly asserted British ascendancy m trade and other interests in the Persia-i gulf, which had beetf won in competition with other nations who held "or aspired to hold'' ports on the India seas. |