Page 168 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

116 Part II.

" I bog to report tlio following ciroumstances for Your Excellency’s inform­
ation and I trust approval.
2. Your Excellency is aware that for some years past, owing to tbo action
of tbo Ottoman autborites, the Consuls here have not attended in person tbo
oflicial rccoptions held in colcbralion of His Imperial Majesty tbo Sultan’s
accession and birthday, but have been represented by their dragomans ; tbo
Wali similarly sending his dragoman to represent him at our receptions on tlio
liko occasions. It appeared to me, however, that this procedure need not bo
followed by Consuls inter sc, and on tbo occasion of tbo Fete Nalionalo of tbo
French Republic soon after my arrival boro I paid an official visit in uniform
to tbo French Consul. Tlio Persian Consul, whom I had consulted, would
have dono tlio samo but for a pressing engagement.
3. On tlio anniversary of nis Imperial Majesty tlio Sultan's accession,
which occurrod shortly afterwards, the Froncli Consul and I observed the exist­
ing rule of sendiug our dragomans to represent us at the oflicial reception, as
wo had no reason to suppose that the Ottoman authorities would bo willing to
introduco any change in the oustoiu they had adopted of late. The Persian
Consul, liowovor, without consulting us, did at torn! in person, and on tlio occa­
sion of his own Sovereign’s birthday, I happened to meet at his reception His
Excollency tlio Wali in full uniform. It appeared to mo that this afforded a
good opportunity of restoring the more friendly practice which had prevailed
until within tho last few years, for His Excellency could hardly rofuso to pay
tbo French Consul and myself the samo official compliment that had been
rendered to tho Persian Consul.
4. Accordingly, on receipt of an official intimation from the Wilaiat, that a
reception would bo held on Wednesday, tho 17th instant, being tlio anniversary
of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan’s birthday, I suggested to tlio French
Consul, with whom I had previously discussed tbo subject, that we should
express our wish to attend it, on tho understanding that our visit would bo
rctumod in uniform on Her Majesty the Queon-Emprcss’s birthday and the Fdte
Nationalo. M. Pcgnon quite agreed in this view, and our dragomans were
Bont to make the proposal to His Excellency Nusrat Pasha, who was to preside
in tbo absonco of the Wali on tour. His Excellency lamented the abrogation
of tbo former custom which be attributed to tlio lato Wali Taki-i-ud-din Pasha;
and remarked that as bis Government was on friendly terms with our Govern­
ment, it behoved its officials to bo so also with us. llo therefore expressed his
pleasure at our proposed visit, and guaranted that it would be returned by His
Excellency tlio Wali in full uniform on Her Majesty the Queen-Empress’s
birthday and on the Fete Nationalo of the French Republic. I accordingly
attended the official reception yesterday and was received with much cordiality
by His Excellency Nusrat Pasha, who informed me that he should telegraph to
His Imperial Majesty the Sultan that I bad offered my congratulations in
person. Tho French and Persian Consuls also paid a similar visit, and in tbo
evening wc all three dined with His Excellency Nusrat Pasha and witnessed
the illuminations in honour of tho occasion.
233B. Sir W. Whito oxpressed his entiro approval of the Consul-General’s
action in the matter.
On tho 24th May 18S9, it being the birthday of Her lato Majesty, a
„ . .... ,oon v* mo public reception was held after sunset
(bciDg the month of Ramzan) in tho open
air at the British Consulate and was attended by—
(a) the Governor-General of Baghdad and Mushir Nusrat Pasha of
Constantinople, at tho timo on special deputation at Baghdad ;
(b) the French, Russian, American and Persian Consuls;
(c) tho Armenian, Chaldean and Syrian clergy;
(d) all the European British subjects and other Europeans in Baghdad ; and
(e) an uuusually large concourse of both British Indian subjects and
tbo Christian and Moslem natives of Baghdad.