Page 174 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

152 Part II.
Tolcgrara No. 2091-G., dftiod 30th July 1877.
From—Viceroy, Simla,
To— Secretary of State, London.
Colonol Nixon, Political Agent, Turkish Arbia, has provisionally appointed a Mr.
Carter to officiate as Assistant Political Agent, Bussorali, and rocotnmnndcd that bo be invested
with Consular powers. This nomination was mado without consulting Government of India,
and ie not approved by us. We have given the appointment to Captain E. A. Fraser now
Assistant Political Agent, Bushiro, who has been directed to roliovc Mr. Carter at once.
211. Colonel Nixon thereupon having applied for the necessary Consular
powers to Captain Fraser, the Foreign Offico appointed him to act as Vice-
Consul at Basrah.
(iii) Complaint proferred by Colonol Nixon, Political Agent in Turkish Arabia,
against Mr. Robertson, Political Assistant ud Vice-Consul at Bussarah.
212. In August 1877, as we have seen, Captain Fraser was appointed
From Secretary of Stale, No. 0, dated 2StU Political Assistant and Vice-Consul at
February 1878. Bussorali during the absence of Mr.
Qeacral A., September 1878, Noi. 12-44. Robertson deputed to Maskat. In No­
vember the Government of India directed Colonel Nixon to order Captain
Fraser to Bombay, whero bis presence was required, and to arrange temporarily
for the work at Bussorali pending Mr, Robertson’s return which might be
shortly expected. Colonel Nixon thereupon directed a Mr. Carter to act as
Vioo-Consul until Mr. Bobcrtson should arrive. At the same timo without
saying one word to the Government of India ho wrote to the Ambassador at
Constantinople, to whom he is subordinate in his capacity of Consul-General at
Bagdad, complaining of Mr. Robertson’s contemplated return. He wrote—
" It will be in Your Excrllency’s recollection that Mr. Uobertson was removed for promo­
tion in tho Political Department under the Government of India as Political Agent at Muscat.
It is now proposed to send hire back. I regret this necessity, as Mr. Robertson’s unconcilia-
t:>ry disposition doos not rendor him of that aid to this office which I ought to expect. I
would refer Your Excellency to the despatch from Sir II. Elliot on this Bubjcct, copy annexed
dated lGth July 1875, and would suggest that Mr. Robortson bo tranaferredpermanently to
tho Government of India or receive Consular employment olsewhere. I am in doubt whether
he can return to this appointment without undergoing the formula of re-appointmently but
Your Excellency will bo able to dccido the question. 1 shall, of course, do my bpst to work
with Mr. Robertson if he be sent ba*:k, but ho will always bo to me a source of weakness
iustoad, of strength.”
243. There was reason to suspect that by this inaccurate description
Colonel Nixon must have intended to mislead Mr. Layard. He could not have
been ignorant of Mr. Robertson’s true position, or that that officer was already
“ permanently under the Government of India.” For on the 28th July •pre­
ceding Colonel Nixon ban beon censured the opportunity being also taken to
explain to him the facts of the appointment at Basrah, which was placed in
the Political list and gazetted accordingly on thoTGth October.
2*14. In this letter to Mr. Layard Colonel Nixon referred to previous corres­
pondence of 1875 with Sir Henry Elliot regarding Mr. Robertson. It is un­
necessary to discuss now the precise cause of compaint. Suffice it to say that
Sir H. Elliot in forwarding the papers to Lord Derby declined to support Mr.
Bobertson’s proposed removal. Lord Derby fully agreed, that no sufficient
reasons warranting such a step had beon adduced, but on tho ground that Mr.
Robertson showed a tendency to raise unnecessary difficulties with the Turkish
authorities, ho directed that that officer should be warned. Except that this
warning was deemed necessary, there is nothing in the correspondence of 1875
which need tell against Mr. Robertson.
245 On receiving Colonel Nixon's letter, Mr. Layard forwarded it to Lord
Derby, simply asking for instuctions. The latter passed the matter on to the
India Office, suggesting with reference to tho correspondence of 1876 that—
M R would probably be for the benefit of the public sorvicc that Mr. Robortson should
not be re-appointod to tho post of Her Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Bussorah.

* Sco pal*. 240 above.