Page 157 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter VII. 135
187. This prohibition considerably disturbed the Resident, and lie sent his
views on the desirability of the British Consul-General being allowed to travel
in Turkish territory both to Sir AV. Wliito and to the Government of India;
In his lottor No. 700, dated 22nd December 1SS5, to Sir YV. White ho
adduced four arguments iu support of his contention:—
“I.—Tho right of tho British Consul-General at Baghdad to move freely about the viliat
having always hithorlo been asserted and maintained would not its relinquish-
niont ropresent and be attended with a marked change in tho General aud poli­
tical status of Great Britain in this locality ?
“II.—In Korhella, three marches, and Najaff, four marches, distant from Baghdad, up­
wards of six thousand of Her Majosty's Indian subjects permanently reside, while
tho shrines there situated nro visited by many thousands more of the same class
from all parts of India in the course of every year. For the protection of so
many subjects of Her Majesty, instead of pressing for the establishment of a
British Vice-Consulate, we bavo moderated our views to the nomination, without
salary or recognised oflici.il status, of a member of their own community, to act,
as far as his personal influence can bo carried, as an arbitrator in their disputes,
a medium between them and the Consulate-General, and a representative of
their interests in the local otTiccs and tribunals. This arrangement is at host
but a compromise. Its adequacy essentially depends on its being closely
and personally supervised by Her Majesty's Consul-General, resident, at Baghdad,
and if that official is now to be restrained from going to those two spots as often
as his presence there is required, then wo may see, in the occurrence recently at
Kerbella or the outragious crime to which the marginally noted reference relates,
a sign in one direction only of the consequences which aro to be apprehended.
“III.—If Her Majesty's Consul-General be debarred from going to Kerbella, the cir­
cumstances of which arc as above slated, bow can his right of visiting Mogul be
insisted on : Mosul being twelve, instead of only three, marches distant, contain­
ing but few subjects of Her Majesty and equipped with a Vice-Consulate of its
own, while if his visiting Mosul likewise bo interdicted, how can he exercise over
the Vice-Consulate there that supervision which, under the constitution of tho
two oflices respectively, ho is required by Her Majesty's Government to main­
tain ?
“IV.—Supposing the personal reach or scope of Her Majesty's Consul General here to
be thus for the first timo restricted to Baghdad and Basrah, will not his position
generally, and more especially in relation to tho Government of Iudia, be altered
aud his usefulness diminished ?
“3. I respectfully trust Your Excellency will not deem mo inolined to magnify a point as
to which difficulty has arisen. I do not forget that every thing has to be dealt with according
to its relative, and not merely its iutrinsic, importance. But from my point of view, and with
reference to the interests entrusted to me, it seems so essential that the freedom of movement
which Her Majesty's Consul-General hero has always possessed should be maintained intact,
that 1 venture to hope Your Excellency will consider me to have only done my duty in sub­
mitting, with much defcronco aud respect, the present representations.'1
188. Tho British Ambassador addressed a note verbale dated, 8th June
1S8G, to the Porte stating Her Majesty’s
External A., October 188C, Nos. 109-112.
Consul-General had represented that "in
order to acquit himself in a proper manner of the duties he is called upon
to perform, it is necessary for him from timo to time to visit the Consulates
under his orders and to -watch the interests of British Indian subjects under
his jurisdiction aud requesting that instructions might be sent to the authorities
of those places to afford him all proper assistance.
189. The Porte answered that tho Governors-General of Baghdad,
Basrah and Mosul had been invited to afford the Consul-General every
assistance he might require within their jurisdictions.
190. Colonel Tweedie started on his tour on 19th October 1886 aud a report
of his extendod tour has been published.
External A., January 1887, Nos. 90-94.
He wished to extend his tour also to tho
Arab littoral with a view to make himself acquainted with the localities
aud persons within Turkish territory on that coast and to enable himself to
deal more effectually with ? ease which might arise in that territory. It was
thought in the Poreign Department that such questions wero more within the
province of the Political Resident, Persian Gulf. Colonel Tweedie was therefore
told by telegram, dated <lth December 18S6, that ho should consult Colonel Ross
with reference to his proposed tour on the Arabian littoral.