Page 135 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter IV. 113
GG. In writing to the Vali, the Turkish Foreign Minister in the instructions
referred to above said :—
“ Your Excellency is requested that with the recognition of his appointment (a* “ Consul at
Knrhclla ”), you will be pleased, out of consideration duo to him, to favour him with the use of
your high efforts in applications ho may have to make and to render him tho necessary
foodities according to treaties and custom.”
G7. A British flag was hoisted on the Consular Agency at Kerbella, when
the above recognition was made known.
Secret E., July 1801, No.. 91-102.
G8. When tho Vali of Baghdad visited Kerbella in 1891, he treated our
ConauUr Agont’a lotlcr dated 12tli April 1894, to agent with marked attention and civility,
tlic Ruiidcnt. a fact which was probably due as much to
Secret K„ July 1891, Nos. 04-102, (No. 102). tho reputation of the agont as an Indian
nobleman and enormously wealthy and influential, as to his position as our agent.
68-A. Under the new system of distribution of the Oudh bequest, sanc­
tioned in 1903, an agont ceased to exist at Kathiraain. Ibrahim Khan was
removed from Kerbella and Mirza Mahomed Hass an Aluhnir wa9 appointed
Vice-Consul at Kerbella (soo Chapter XVI).
(X) Transfer of the Basrah Assistant Political Agency to Her Majosty's Consular
Service, 1898.
69. In November 1897 Mr. G. S. Mackenzie of tho firm of Messrs. Gray
Mackenzie & Co., drew the attention of
General A., Juno 1898, Nos. 1-G.
Foreign Office to the frequent changos that
had taken in occupants of Basrah Consulate since (lie date tho practice of
drawing the Consular Officers from the Indian Political Department com­
menced, whereas, previously tho appointment was of a permanent character ancl
so secured to the officers who held them valuable local influence.
70. The Government of India on being consulted, expressed their views
in their despatch to the Secretary of State, No. 72, Genl., dated 5th May 1S9S:—
11 The present arrangement, whereby the appointment is held, by an officer of our Political
Department, undoubtedly tends to bring about frequent changes of personnel. With the object
of retaining officers in the appointment, it has been the practice to give the incumbent, wher-
ever possiblo, officiating promotion in advance of his seniority on the graded list of the Depart­
ment. This practice is open to objection and it has not met the difficulty. Wo do not see our
way to prevent frequent changes as long as the appointment is held by an officer on the graded
list. Longer tenure might perhaps he secured by recruiting for the appointment from Her
Majesty's Consular service and wo arc prepared, if Your Lorddiip concurs, to make over the
appointment to Her Majesty's Government and to pay from Indian revenues a contribution in
rupees based on the average cost of the la-t five years. Wc enclose a. statement showing that
the average expenditure ha6, from 1892-93 to 18UG-97 inclusive,’actually been, in round figures,
Rs. 21,500. With effect from March 1894-, however, wc sanctioned the payment of a stand­
ing fee of Rs. 100 a month to a properly qualified practitioner for medical attendance on tho
Government servants at Basrah. If the full payment of Us. 1,200 a year had been made
under this head throughout the five years covered by the statement, tho average cost would
have been, in round figures, lls. 2J,G‘10 a year. This is the contribution which we arc prepared
to mako. Should the arrangement be acceptod, we would simultaneously reduce the graded
list of our Political Department by one Political Assistant of the 1st class on Rs. 800 a month.
The addition which was made to the Department when the appointment was brought on to
tho graded list was an Assistantship of the 3rd grado on Its. 5U0 a month, but tho average
ci-st of the actual iucumbcnt approximates to Rs. SOU a month.
It would be convenient to receive very early information by telegram, as to whether the
abovo suggestion dors or does not commend itself to Her Majesty's Govrrnmcnt, for the reason
that tho present Assistant Political Agent and Consul, Captain L. A. Forbes, has intimated
his wish to take furlough. Should Her Majesty's Government he prepared to take over tho
appointment on the abovo terms and be in a position to fill it an early date, Captain Forbes
would, if possible, be retained at Basrah until relieved by the Consular officer selected by Her
Majesty's Government. Her Majesty's Government would, in tlmt event, no doubt determine
the relations between the Political llcsideut and Consul General ir. Turkish Arabia and the
Cousul at Basrah, who has hitherto been subordinate to tbc Political Resident.
71. The proposed arrangement was accepted by Her Majesty’s Government
subject to a modification. The Treasury insisted upon provision being made
in the Indian contribution on account of the non-effective charge for tho
Consulate. The India Office accordingly sanctioned an annual charge on
Indian revenues of £1,4,00 for five years to cover all expenses, effective and
non-effective, of tho Consulate (Despatch from the Secretary of State to Gov­
ernment of India, No. 95-Political, dated 8tli September 1898).
72. Mr. A. C. "YVratislaw was tho first British Consul appointed at Basrah
(Secretary of State’s telegram, dated 27th September 1S98).
73. The following is the list of British Consuls at Basrah since 1898 :—
[SG16FD]