Page 119 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter IV. 97
to continue to reside at Baghdad for the present, leaving his assistant at
Basrah.
28. In 1812 tho designation of “ Resident at Basrah” tv as changed to ramgrapb mo.
that of “Political Agent in Turkish Arabia” with liberty to reside either at
Basrah or Baghdad, and with authority to depute his assistant to either of
those places.
29. In 1S19 tho French Consul at Baghdad intimated to the Pasha that
in receiving him—
,c His Highness ought to bear in mind that throughout the Ottoman Empire it was
ordained by existing treaties, that any Frcnoh Agent was to bo ranked abovo all British repre­
sentatives whatever.”
30. In the Pasha’s reply the following words occur Paragraph 243.
“ Mr. Rich, being a Resident Minister and Mons. dc Pigouroux only a Consul, there
could not, under any circumstancns, he a competition between them. Whatever may bo tho
rule clsowhorc the ceremonial of my Court gives the precedence to the British Resident.”
31. In 1821, however, tho Pasha treated Mr. Bich with such indignity
that tho latter determined to leave Baghdad, tho Pasha would not let him go. PBr®srRPh aG0-
Mr. Bich put the llesidency into a state of defence, and finally got tho whole
establishment away in safety. The Bombay Government wrote to tho Pasha
demanding an apology, and informing him of the only conditions on which
friendly relations could ho restored. Eventually tho Pasha agreed to the whole
of the conditions except the apology to Mr. Bich, who died while negotiations
were proceeding.
31-A. In May 1822 Captain W. Bruce was, in conscqucnco of abolition Paragraphs 202.3.
of the Residency at Baghdad, appointed Political Agent in the Oulf of Benia,
making Kishmar Basrah his head-quarters, and Captain Taylor was appointed
Assistant to him. But in November 1822 Captain Bruce was removed from
his office and Captain Taylor appointed Political Agent at Basrah.
32. The question of abolishing the Turkish Arabia Agency was seriously
taken up several timc3 (soil, in 1827,1830 and 1834) by the Government of
Bombay, and it was decided that tho earliest opportunity should he embraced to
mergo it in the Persian Gulf Agency, and appoint only native. Agents at Basrah
and Baghdad.
33. Lord Clare, then Governor of the Presidency, however, observed io a Paragraph 273.
Minute, dated the 18th September 1834, that undoubtedly, if merely the protec•
lion of British Commerce was required in Turkish Arabia, a Native Agent at
Basrah would answer as well as a European Political Agent ; but that Bis
Lordship teas of opinion that interests purely Indian were more deeply concern­
ed, and that looking to the connection between European and Indian politics, it
appeared very doubtful to Bis Lordship whether it would be advisable, at all
events for the pt'esent, to abolish the Political Agency in Turkish Arabia.
The Government of India entirely concurred in the sentiments entertained by
Lord Claro on the above subject (Government of India letter dated 9th Octo­
ber 1834).
34. On the 1st July 1831 the Hon-’ble the Secret Committee addressed Paragraph 282.
a despatch, from which the following is an extract, to the Governor-General
of India in Council, containing instructions for the guidance of the. public
conduct of the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, and for the regulation- of his
various public relations:—
ff Our Agent in Pacha lie of Baghdad is not to regard himself as the Plenipotentiary at the
Court of a Sovereign and independent Prince. Ho is not to consider it as part of his ordinary
duty to mix himself with the local duties and civil contentions of the restless and unscrupulous
chiefs by whom he surrounded. lie is not at liberty to enter at his own discretion, and without
instructions, into negotiations and political engagements of any description. Ho is to recollect
that we can regard the Pacha only as the dependent and subjeot of the Sultan, with whom wo
maintain amity, and at whose Court wo have an Ambassador. So long as our allianco with
Turkey subsists, our peculiar relations with any of the Pachas of thatempiro must be regulated
by a reference to the paramount obligations which connect us with the master authority.
The Company’s Resident in Turkish Arabia ought, we conceive, to consider himself as
acting exclusively in a consular capacity. On the duties which belong to that character it is
not necessary hero to enlarge, but a watchful protection of British interests and tho persons of
British subjects, diligence in tho collection of important information, and an unfailing communi­
cations to your Government and to this country of all publio events, and political changos, all
these are perfectly consistent with that firm and guarded abstinence from personal interference
with the internal administration, and external relations of the Pachalio, whioh we conoeive it
for our honor, no loss than our interest to observe.”
ISfUfiPTH