Page 167 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter VII. 1X5
to his using tho title of Resident
" I hnvo the honour to reply to your letter No. , idated ?th November J 90S,
regarding tho official designation to be employod by mo in addressing you.
“ Ah there wore many precedents for addressing your predecessors in Baghdad with the
dual subscription of Resident and Consul-General, and as no exception had boon taken to
this mo<lo of subscription before, I was not aware that there was anything remarkable iu it,
nor did 1 anticipate any objection to it from you.
"On receipt of your letter under reply, however, I took tho opportunity of ascertaining
from my Government what was the correct modo of subscription and I have now been informod
that iu addressing you I should only subscribe myself as Consular-General.
"In future, therefore, you will be addressed by me only in my capacity of Consul-
General."
229. Tho Government of India approved of Colonel Newmaroh’s action
(Foreign Department letter No. 11S7-E.A., dated 10th April 190X).
(x) Obstruction of a pathway from Baghdad Residency to the Tigris, 1890-93.
230. There was a direct pathway from tho Baghdad Residency to tho bed
of the Tigris, tho use of which had been
External A., April 1890, Nos. 120-137.
enjoyed by tho Residency for over 50
years, which was closed in 1S90, by a neighbour, who had purchased the plot
of ground through which tho path led. The ownor of tho Consulate house and
grounds, Nawab Ikbal-ud-Dowla, managed to keep tho pathway in question
until bis death in 1SS7. In 1SS8 the plot of grouud over which tho pathway
runs was purchased by a native of Baghdad, and tho right of way enjoyed for
over half a century by the Consulate was contested by the purchaser.
231. This was a clear case of easement, which could bo established in a
Court of Justice, that was determined to do justice, hut it was useless to
expect this from a Turkish Court, especially as there was reason to believe that
the Turkish authorities secretly supported the opposition to tho claim of the
Consulate. The Russian Charge d'Affaires at Constantinople appears also to
have interested himself in the affairs, as a part owner of the land, was a registered
Russian subject.
232. There was a movement to purchase tho pathway in question, but
this was frustrated by the opposing elements the Consulate had to face. It
was also proposed that the pathway should be kept open until the dispute was
Secret K., July 1890. Nos. 294-320. settled in a Court of Justice, for which
Secret E, September 1890, Nos. 122-131. purpose it was demanded that the Consu­
External A., May 1891, Nos. 18-20.
late should file a suit. This would likely
lead to endless and fruitless litigation unworthy of the British Consulate.
233. In these circumstances it was decided as the most advisable measure
to construct a pathway within the pro­
Secret E., July 1892, Nos. 31G-325.
perty indisputably belonging to the late
Nawab at a cost of £200 out of his personal estate. There was protest
raised against this diversion of these funds by some of the heirs. A compro­
mise was then arrived at uuder which the charges were to bo shared equally
between the Government of India and the estato of tho late Nawab (see
letter from Mr. Godloy, Under Secretary of State to the Foreign Office, dated
31st May 1692).
(xi) Certain alterations in ceremonial observancy in Baghdad on the Birthdays of
Her Majesty the late Queen EmpresB, and His Majesty the Sultan 188S.
233A. In his despatch No. 18, dated 18th Aprill8S9, Major Talbot reported
the circumstances, which led to his pay­
External A., Juno 1889, Nos. G2-G3.
ing the representatives of the Ottoman
Government at Baghdad an official visit in uniform on tho occasion of the anni­
versary of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan’s birthday, instead of the recent,
practice of sending a dragoman to represent Her Majesty’s Consul-General.
The facts reported were as follows :
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