Page 121 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter IV. 90
38. Tho Bombay Government was at the same limo furnished with copy
of a letter which had on the same day (16th September 1813) under the
ordors of the Governor-General of India in Council been addressed to
Major llawlinson, informing him of his having been appointed to tho above
chargo, and containing instructions for his guidance in tho discharge of the
duties devolving on him. In compliance with a request made to this Govern­
ment by His Lordship in Council, orders were on receipt of the above letter
issued to tho Resident in tho Persian Gulf and to tho Commanders of tho
vcssols of tho Indian Navy employed in that quarter to attond to any requisi­
tions or instructions they might oxpectivcly rcccivo from Major Rawliuson on
his assuming chargo of the duties of Political Agont in Turkish Arabia.
39. The instructions of tho Government of India to Major llawlinson
above alluded to wero to tho following effect:—
" Tho Governor-Gonerni in Council lias directed me to inform you that ho has appoiuted
you Political Agent in Turkish Arabia. Ilis Lordship in Council has adopted this measure
in the earnest desire to preserve peace between Persia and Turkey, and in tho confidcnco that
you will most zealously devoto all your exortions to the accomplishment of this object; you
will feel that your efforts can only be effectually aided by tho reliance of both Governments
upon your perfect impartiality in every quostion which exists or which may ariso between them
and you will bo act as to induco them to placo tboir rclianco upou you.
You will keop yourself in constant communication with Her Majesty's Ministers at tho
Courts of Constantinople and Teheran ; you will afford thorn all tho information yon obtain,
taking special caro to sift tho information you may receive, and to transmit it to Her Majesty's
Ministers with Buch remarks as may lead them to attach tho just valuo to tho facts stated.
You will in all cases endeavour to carry out tho views of Her Majesty’s Ministers at Constanti­
nople and Teheran whenever they may be communicated to you, and any instructions you may
deem it necessary to givo to the Political Agents of tho Government of India in tho Persian
Gulf will bo in entire conformity with tho spirit of tho instructions you may so receive ; you
will understand that the boIc object of your mission is tho preservation of peace and the crea­
tion of a good understanding between the Governments and subjects of Persia and Turkey, and
you may be assured that the Governor-General in Council will placo the most favourable
interpretation upon your conduct zealously directed to tho attainment of this result."
40. On 15th March 1844 Major llawlinson was appointed Her Majesty’s
Consul at Baghdad in succession to Lieuteuant-Coloncl Taylor. In informing
Major llawlinson of this appointment, Lord Aberdeen, then Secretary of Stato-
for Foreign Affairs, wrote to him in July 1844 :—
“ I think it right toobservo to you that Consular rank wns given to tho East India Com~
pany's Agent at Baghdad not with the view of making that Agent especially a servant of tho
Crown, but solely in order that he might be able if circumstances called for Consular interfer­
ence to act ns Consul, and it wns expressly stated in the instructions to Colonel Taylor of the
10th August 1841, which you will find amongst the Consular archives at Baghdad, that Her
Majesty*t Commission was not intended to interfere with or alter his position as the Hast India
Company's Resident at Baghdad further than to place under his superintendence the British
Ficc-Consul at Mosul.”
41. In 1851 Lieutenant-Colonel llawlinson was appointed Consul- Qeneral,
Baghdad. No contemporary authority can bo traced for this alteration in our
records, but whereas before the year 1851 Colonel Rawlinson is called merely
Her Majesty’s Consul at Baghdad, bo is entitled Her Majesty’s Consul General
at Baghdad in our records from tho year 1861 on his return from leave, during
which time Lieutenant-Colonel A. Keraball acted for him and was also called
Her Majesty’s Consul at Baghdad. From Mr. Hertslet’s memorandum (Pro­
ceedings No. 65 in Secret, October 1874, Nos. 62-6S), it appears that Lieuten­
ant-Colonel llawlinson was appointed Consul-General at Baghdad on 22nd
November 1861.
41-A. From tho samo memorandum it appears Colonel llawlinson was
reminded that the new commission empowered him to appoint Vice-Consuls
and that he was authorized to appoint as British Vice-Consul at Baghdad the
person who might he appointed as the East India Company’s Native Agent at
that place.
(iii) List of Political Officers in Turkish Arabia from 1788-89 to 1843-44.
42. Wo shall reproduce here a statement forwarded by the Bombay Gov­
ernment to tho Government of India showing names, salaries, etc., of tho
Political Officers in Turkish Arabia from tho year 1788-89 to 1843-47.