Page 159 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter VII. 137
the Consul-General oC all blame and would not objoct to tlio Consul-General
occasionally using the stationnairo for tho purpose of visiting parts of his Con­
sular district on tho Tigris above Baghdad.
198. This last request was objected to by tho Porte on the ground that
to comply with it would bo cited
Eocrct-E., January ISOS, No*. 135.137.
as a precedent by other Foreign Consuls
who would claim similar privileges for tho vessels of their respective countrios.
(vii) Complaint by the Porto against Mossrs. Lynch and Company’s steamers dis­
charging other than mail bags at tho Baghdad Consulate, 1888.
199. In March 1888 Her Majesty’s Ambassador received a note verbale
from the Porte complaining of the proceed­
External A., May 1888, No*. 140-143. ings of the Lynch Company’s steamers in
discharging at the British Consulate oilier objects besides mail bags before pro­
ceeding to tho Custom IIouso wharf.
200. Tho Political Resident at Baghdad was directed to obtain tho
explanation of Messrs. Lynch and Co., who replied—
“In reply wo beg to inform you that when our steamers stop opposite tho Rcsideooy on their
upward voyage nothing but the mail bags arc landed there.
“ The only exceptions for this rule have been on one or two occasions. Indian official and
other passaugers, guests of tho Resident, with their baggago have been allowed to
land.”
On this tho Political Resident observed (letter dated 25th April 1888)
“For the landing in exceptional eases of invited and expected guests in mail boats, or in a
Cornet’s boat specially'sent to bring them off mail, steamer, at small landing place (where maile
are landed) close to Consulato-General, I, and my predecessors before mo, must be held res­
ponsible. Such guests are, as a rule, official persons, or perhaps travellers of rank and con­
sideration. To let them be carried past the Consulate to the Customs IIouso would be to give
them but a poor idea of the attention and hospitality awaitiug them in this Ottoman city. The
privilege now referred to is at all events one of old standing. It depends, I respectfully venture
to romark, on tho spirit of mutual comity underlying, happily, tho relations generally which
from time immemorial up to now liavo subsisted between two Governments. That it has
never been used otherwise than with moderation and judgment no one here can possibly state.
Nay, it has been used but too sparingly; sometimes through one’s wish not to strain it; at
other times owing to steamer coming in unexpectedly; and quests one was on tho look-out
for being therefore taken past the Consulate, as it were accidentally. To latter category
belonged the incident neccssitation. the references to Your Excellency. On that occasion
Surgeon Leahy of Her Majesty’s Indian Medical Department on reaching Baghdad to assume
duties of Officiating Resident Surgeon, was, to my great regret, owing to steamers coming
in before her time, not landed at Consulate but carried on the Customs House, where,
notwithstanding perfect openness, and desire to comply with rules, on his part, Regie
Department pounced, it will be remembered, on his cheroots, preferred officially t.o tho Yilayat,
and unfouuded, and afterwards refuted, and practically retracted, charge against him of intent
to smuggle or defraud, and comported iisclf generally in a way little to be looked for under a
civilized Government and in a friendly country. This was by no means a solitary instance.
It is paiuful to ono to 6ct down harsh judgments, or use strong terms, of a groat public
department of the city where his lines liavo fallen officially. But truth constrains me to state
to Your Excellency that in the courso of these last few years the conduct of the Baghdad
Customs House officials towards Englishmen (in several instances Englishmen of rank) who
have passed through their hands has, leaving far behind tho stage of mere obstructivencss,
been so high handed and discourteous, that iu this I deferentially submit we are bound to seo
one reason more why, while continuing to use only when necessary the privilege so long enjoyed
by us of landing, equally with embarking, guests of the Consulate at tho Consulate’s proper
wharf, we should uot allow that privilege to be taken away from us.
201. The Porto was not satisfied with tho explanations furnished and
maintained that tho irregularities com­
External A., Dccotulcr 1838, No«. 12-16.
plained of were of frequent occurrence,
Mossrs. Lynch however assured us that there was no ground for tho allegations
made and Major Talbot corroborated tho statement.
When the explanations wero sent to the Porte, the following note was
addressed by tho foreign Minister to our
External A., May 1889, Nos. 149-151.
Ambassador (dated 12th February 1889):—
LSeiGFD]