Page 161 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter VII. 139
“Tho prohibition is admittedly—even by tho Customs authorities in Baghdadi vide second
paragraph of your letter to llis Excelloncy Ilor Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador—most unreason­
able, and I beg that tho tenor of this loiter may be communicated by telegram to Jiia Excollcncy
with a view to tho removal of so irksome a restriction.
“ It is hardly necessary to say that I was unaware of any ordcrjforbidding tho entry of
metal or loaded cartridgo eases into tho Turkish dominions, and no such order is traceable in
tho Consulate records."
207. A rcforonco was made to tho British Embassy on Lieutenant Stratton’s
ropresetation, and the following was tho
Secret E, September 1891, No«. 11M47.
reply (dated 22nd July 1891) :—
“ With reference to Your Lordship’s despatch, Consular No. 39 of the 4th instant, I
regrot to roport that Her Majesty's Embassy cannot succeed in obtaining permission for tho
importation at Basrah of sporting cartridges required by Her Majesty's Consul there for bis
private use.
“ Equally fruitless efforts havo on several previous occasions been made, uot only by Ilor
Majesty’s Embassy, but also by other foreign missions here, to procure in favour of sportsmen
a relaxation of the strict regulation under which the entry iuto Turkey is prohibited of all
loaded cartridges.
“The privilege caunot bo claimod by us ns a right, for even tho lapsed Treaty of 1861
only provided for the entry into Turkey of ' small quau ti lies of gunpowder,’ and is silent on
the subject of loaded cartridges.
“ As regards the entry even of small quantities of gunpowder intended for sporting purposes,
I may remark that the Turkish Ordinance of 7th January 1SG3, quoted by Mr. Consul-
General Ttvecdic, was superseded by a later regulation of 1870, to be found on page 418 of
Aristrachis’ Legislation Ottomano, Volume 3, abrogating all previous regulations, and that
tho authorities havo for many years past been allowed, in spite of the Treaty of 1801, to
provent gunpowder for any purposes being brought iuto Ottomau dominions.
“ The hardship of being prevented from importing loaded cartridges falls quite as heavily
on Ilor Majesty's Diplomatic and Consular sorvants at Constantinople as it does upon Hor
Majesty’s Consuls in Turkish Arabia, but I understand that the former satisfy their require­
ments fairly well by importing (as everybody can do) empty cartridge-cases, and buying gun­
powder of Turkish Government manufacture.”
(ix) Question of the status and jurisdiction of the Resident in Turkish Arabia.
(«) Question raised in 1874.
208. Colonel Herbert was a Resident that found himself often in disagree­
ment with the Yalis of Baghdad, Kedif
Secret, October 1874, No*. 62-G8.
Pasha. One of tho awkward questions that
arose between them was regarding the status of the Resident at Baghdad.
The Yalis wished to know the number and names of tho dragomans and other
native employes attached to the British Consulate-General, in order that
they might he properly registered and recognised as privileged porsons
according to Consular regulations.
209. By these regulations, which were accepted by the various foreigu
representatives, tho native staff of a Consulate is limited to four dragomans
and four guards, although theuumbor may he in exceptional cases increased on
an understanding to that effect betwoon the Porte and tho diplomatic repre­
sentatives at Constantinople.
210. As Colonel Herbort possessed a very large staff of native omployds
and servants, when bo was officially requested to furnish him with a list of
their names, ho refused on the plea that they were all paid by, and borne upon,
the office establishment of Political Agent under Her Majesty's Government
of India. On the Yali repeating his request, Colonel Herbert again declined to
send in a list, informing tho Yali that ho would refer the matter to his superiors
for instruction.
211. Colonel Herbert thereupon addressed tho British Embassy (despatch
No. 21, dated 9lh March 1874) ou tho subject and contended “ that the
office of tho Resident preceded that of Consul at Baghdad, and that the post
being recognised by the Foreign Office and consequently at Constantinople
only in its Consular oapacity loses, in tho oyos of those with whom it is of much