Page 162 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

HO Part II.
importance, tho Politicnl Agent should possess much influence, its diplomatic
and political character” ilo therefore suggested that the appointment under
the Sucrolary of Stato for, and the Viceroy of, India might bo recognised by
tho Secretary of Stato for Foreign AITairs, by Her Majesty’s Embassy and tbc
Sublime Porte. In arguing on this ques­
• Farngraph above.
tion Colonel Herbert laid special stress on
Lord Aberdeen’s instructions to Major Kawliusou under date the 14th July 1844.
212. Lord Derby aftor consulting Lord Salisbury informed tho British
Embassy—
w that the Secretary of State for India in Council in of opinion that it would be inexpe­
dient to raise any question as to your status as Political /gent in Turkish Arabia. It is con­
sidered that the requirements of the ease in reference to your public establishment would be
met by the excess over tho number fixed by the consular regulations being sanctioned by the
Porte in the manner provided for in them”.
213. Tho Government of India expressed themselves as follows in their
despatch to the Secretary of Stato No.
Political, Auguit 1874, Noi. U0152.
119, dated 18th August 1874
“ With referenco to this question, wo would remark that since the year 1798 the Govern­
ment of Indin has boon represented by n Diplomat ic A goat at Baghdad, whoso denomination
has been sometimes Rcsidcut, and somotimes Political Agent, and that although tho Sublime
Porto has never formally recognised any other officer than a Consul or Consul-General, and
although the treaties between Great Britain and Turkey contain no stipulations on this subject,
the position of tho Political Agent of the Government of India has been formally and officially
recognised by tho Local Government at Baghdad. From this fact, and from the continuance
of tho offico for threo quarters of a century without any objection on the part of tho Turkish
Government, we consider that the acquiescence and cousentof tho Sublime Porte may be fairly
presumed to have been accorded to the arrangement.
“Tho distinction of the Consular from the diplomatic functions is valuable, and should
not, in our opinion, be obliterated in the manner suggested by Colonel Herbert. Wo would
express a hope that the position hitherto enjoined for ao long a period by tho Political Agent
may not be disturbed.”

(6) The question raised in 1884.
214. In 1884 tho Porto seems to have refused to extend the jurisdiction of
certain of Her Majesty’s Consulates in tho Ottoman Empire, and Lord Du florin
asked Mr. Plowdeu to furnish him with information on the following
points
(1) the districts for which Mr. Plowden and tho Vice-Consuls under his
jurisdiction hold Berats;
(2) what sub-division had been made in the Vilayat of Baghdad and on
what dates ;
(3) whether any serious inconvenienco would arise from the refusal of
tho Sublime Porte to grant additional Berats for the Consuls and
Vice-Consuls for the newly-created Vilayat.
215. We might quote tho reply of Mr. Plowden in extenso as it deals with
the three questions fully and clearly.

No. 691, dalod Baghdad, 20th August 1884.
From—Tnivon-CnrcnELB Plowdhk, Eiq., Politioal Rosidont in Turkish Arabia and Her Britannie
Majcity's Consul-General, Baghdad,
To—Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador, Coustantinoplo.
I regret that the information on record in my offico is not sufficient to onable me to
th*^6th j8|^U^ 08 exPlicit,y flB ^ ^hl wish the questions in Your Excellency’s circular of

2. With regard to the districts for which tho Consul-General at Baghdad and the Vice-
Consuls subordinate to him respectively hold Berats, I find that as regards my own Berat,
“ Baghdad" only is mentioned, but in that of Sir II. Itawlinson, tho first British Consul-
General at Baghdad, tho expression used is " Baghdad and its environs.” I have not a copy of
the Berat of the successive Vice-Consuls at Basrah, but in Mr. Bobortson’s Borat tho only place