Page 154 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

132 Part II.

1C7. Colonel Kcmball then tele­
Politic*! A.. 1BC8, No*. 73-73.
graphed to tho Embassy (12tli June
18G8) :—
“ Unless a Herat can be exceptionally obtained in consideration of Foreign Office appoint-
xnont and long recognition, there is no hope of compromise or tacit conformity here.”
1G8. The roply of Sir II. Elliot (dated 13th June 1808) wag—
"No Herat can ho asked for a Vice-Consul in a placo where there iB a Superintending
Consular Oflicer. If tho Vice-Consul is recognized as the medium of communication between
you and Turkish authorities, wo have no right to claim more. The Vice-Consul at Con'-lanti-
noplo is not officially recognized as such by the Turkish Government, though ho holds bis office
by Foreign Office appointment.”
169. Mr. Michael wa9 thenceforth kuown only as a Native Agent.
(ii) Firing of a salute to the Consul-Genoral from the Cornel at Baghdad, 1873.
170. In 1873 a salute was fired from the Comet on the return of Colonel
o , n.v. ir-1 R-rs Herbert to Baghdad from a tour. This
Cotnnri Herbert to the Kuiimuy, No. 67, dated was objected to by the lurkish authorities.
23 rd December 1873. Tho Political Agent reported :—
" In former times (h»» guns of the Comet- were always employed to fire 6alutcs both for
tho Political Agent, and on such occasions as called for them.
“ In the time of my predecessors one of the two guns was removed, with the view, I believe,
of giving more accommodation on deck, and the former practice was consequently intermitted,
but this not being in accordance with what I detuned proper I suggested to the officer that
this gnn should be replaced. This he was only too glad to do, and t he year before last be was able,
when at Hnsrah, to tiro salute on tho occasion of the anniversay of the Sultan’s accession, no
objection whatever being then raised, but, on the contrary, tbo Commodore expressing admira­
tion of tbe manner in which this was done.
" Unfortunately last year at the time of that anniversary, and also on the day of Radif
Pasha’s arrival, the vessel was not in a position lo fire salutes as I wished to be done.
"On my recent return from Basrah Mr. Powell fired a salute of 13 guns to which I am
entitled under Indian Kegulaiions, and I was astonished to hear that this had given umbrago
to tbe Governor-Genoial of the Province.”
171. On this point Mr. Hertslet noted :
“ She belongs now to what is called the Bombay Marine, and i6 commanded by a refired
Lieutenant of the late Indian Navy, without u commission, and her crew consists almost
entirely of Nestorcan Christians (Turkish subjects). She only carries two nine-pounders (fore
and aft guns), and according to tbe Admiralty Modulation no vessel carrying less than 10
guns has a right to fire a salute, except when omission to do 60 would give offence to a foreign
power, or a foreign officer.
"Nevertheless I am informed by Sir Arnold Kcmball, who was for many years Political
Agent and Consul-General at Baghdad, and by Captain Felix Jones, who commanded on
the rivers for 35 years, that prior to 1863 the Comet constantly fired salutes, and that when
she did so no exception whatever was taken for so doing by the Turkish authorities.”
172. Her Majesty’s Chargd d’Affaires wrote to Colonel Herbert (letter
dated 7th April 1874.)—
" The question raised by Rachid Pasha is not, as I understand it, whether you aro entitled
by the rules of the services to which you and the Commander of H. M. 8. Cornel res­
pectively belong, to receive a salute, but simply whether that vessel is to be allowed to fire salutes
at Baghdad in honor either of yourself or any one else, or in fact, under any circumstances
whatever. His Excellency declares that the vessel cannot bo allowed to do so, and inasmuch
as Baghdad it not an open seaport, but in a large town situated on a rivor far in lbo
interior of the country, 1 do not see that tho Ottoman Government can he denied the right to
decide the matter, nor can that right be impaired by the occasional or even frequent discharge
of small arras within tbe town.
" I regret, therefore, that it is out of my power to give you, as you request, my support in
this matter. On the other hand, I feel that it is hut due to yourself and the position which
you have so long held as Her Majesty's Political Agent and Consul-General at Baghdad that