Page 153 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Part II. 131

CHAPTER VII.
Turkish encroachments on the rights and privileges of the British
Agents.

ICO. "We shall deal in this chapter with certain restrictions imposed or
tried to bo imposed upon somo of the privileges connected with the British
Residency iu Turkish Arabia.

(i) Suspension of Mr. Michael Minas as Vice-Consul at Baghdad, 1868.
161. In February I8G8 Namik Pasha complained of the general behaviour
of Michael Minna, Native Agent in the
Political A., Juno 18G8, Nos. 17B-80.
Residency, who had been mado Vice-Con­
sul at Baghdad in 1859, as rude and disrespectful, and desired that another
person might he appointed to be the medium of communication between the
British Consulate and the Turkish Government. Sir A. Komball declined to
remove Mr. Minas on a general charge, and requested Namik Pasha to specify
instances of misconduct on Mr. Minas' part. Namik Pasha, without noticing
the requisition, refused to transact business with Mr. Minas.
16'?.. Sir A. Komball reported that Mr. Minas had boon attached to the
Political Agent as a paid employe for 24i yoars, and that hitherto no complaint
of any kind had been preferred against him by the Turkish authorities. Ho
mentioned tho following circumstance, which ho thought had given rise to the
present charge.
163 A respectable Indian British subject was robbed on his way to
Baghdad, aud two of his plunderers were imprisoned by order of Namik Pasha;
but a long time having elapsed without any stops being taken to bring the
offenders to justice, the complainant left for Mecca. After four months,
Namik Pasha ordered the case to bo sent up to tho Criminal Court, and called
upon Mr. Minas to produce bis witnesses. Mr Minas replied that the only wit­
nesses were the plundered man and his attendants, and as they had gone away,
it rested with the Government to detain or release the robbers as it thought
proper. Upon this, Reza Beg, who was present, observed to Mr. Minas that he
at least was not a dweller iu tents, and ought to know that tho formalities of a
trial could not be dispensed with. To this Mr. Minas retorted that the argu­
ment was indisputable, hut after the lapse of four months the witnesses might
not he forthcoming, and that for the rest, such formalities were very often dis­
pensed with at Baghdad. On Namik Pasha’s remarking that the blame was
duo to the laxity of the executive, the subject was dropped, and Mr. Minas
took his leave.
164. It appears that Mr Minas’ remarks about the formalities of a trial
displeased Namik Pasha; but Reza Beg, to whom Sir A. Komball first spoke of
the affair, stated that be perceived nothing offensive in Mr. Minas’ tone. Sub­
sequently, however, he said that Mr. Minas’ manner on the occasion was pro­
voking ; hut Sir A. Komball did not credit the socond statement.
165. Being pressed upon about the illegality of his proceedings and
invited also to establish his charge, Namik Pasha after the lapso of two months
withdrew' the plea of misconduot. and admitted the innocence of Mr. Michael
Minas. Namik Pasha was then succeeded by Taki-ud-din Pasha as Vali. He,
however, refused to recognize that officer.
1C0. Representations wero then made to the Porte, with the result that
tho Vali was ordered to allow Mr. Minas to
Political A., 18G8, Nos. 210-211.
resume his duties. Tho Vali, however,
recognized him only as a Dragoman and not as Vice-Consul. He asserted that
there was nothing in the records of the serai to show that ho was ever appointed
as Vice-Consul and recognized as Vice-Consul.