Page 216 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

190 Part III.
Having boon verbally informed by Iho customs authorities that tho abovo vessel would not
be allowed lo tako in any cargo, wo wrote to tho Custom House Maator on 3rd instant to know
if such was the ca<c, and, if so, tho reason for bis prohibition, as we bad duly discharged tho
stoamcr and otherwise conformed with existing regulations. To this letter wo received no
reply, though we made application tor it.
As we act hero ns Agents for this Company, wo felt, bound to protect oursolvos by giving
tho usual notice of our intention to ship cargo, and asking permission for it to bo passed
through tho customs. This (f Irzalml ” was returned to our clerk with tho answer that it could
not be accepted, hut any written i«|»ly was rovolutcly rofused. Nativo merchants also wore
preventod from shipping anything by our steamer, Customs Officer being sent to accompany
*11 goods cloared through the customs on board the Turkish steamer Pft rat. As described
elsewhere, passcngois were also foicibly prevented from going on board our steamor, so con-
■cquontly sno loft this morning with Her Britannic Majesty’s mails, quite empty and so light
that sho is dangerous for navigation.
Under these circumstances, wo beg to enter, for such action as you may deem fit, the
strongest protest against this unjustifiable treatment of our steamers which have plied on this
liver for upwards of twenty-one yeats, during which time they have always carried any
Turkish Government drspatcbrs freo of charge for which w« have stopped at all stations on
the river. Cu-toms iceoipts from liusra, Coot, and Aimr.ih, amounting to large sums, have
also been regularly conveyed without expense, and in short, we have olwnys done all in our
power to reciprocate tho pruilego accorded to us by the Ottoman Government, and which is
now threatoned to he suddenly wrested from us.
lVo are under heavy contracts with merchants here for conveyance of cargo to Busra ;
and have chartered sea steamers to carry it thence to its destination ; for which, full or not
full, wo shall have to pay; and the most serious complications will arise, for which and for all
other loss sustained by the Company in consequence of the action herein complained of, wo
have no doubt the Directors will eventually put forward a claim to damages, and these claims,
wo venture to hopo, will rectivo tho full support of Her Majesty's Government.
93. Colonel Tweed ie sent a short official protest to tho Wali, but without any
apparent result. Ho was, however, of opinion that this contest with the Turkish
authorities might cause a popular rising in Baghdad oudangering tho life .and
property of oil tho Europeans in the town, and he consequently conferred on
the subject with the Russian and the French Consuls. The Russian Consul
did not consider that theie was any danger, and refused to move in tho matter,
but the French Consul adopted Colonel Tweodie's views, and promised to
address tho AY ali on the subject.
91. The Wali enforced his orders more and more strictly. The steamers from
Basrah were not allowed to touch land anywhere between Kurna and Baghdad,
not even at their own coaling stations. On their arrival at Baghdad guards
wore placed on board, and when the mail steamer arrived on the 11th July,
neither crew nor passengers were allowed to land. On the following day
Colonel Tweedio wrote as follows with reference to these oveuts and to their
olfcct on public feeling and English prestige
Extract from Iiiary for week ending 15th July.
15th July. 6 a. wi.—26. Steamer Khali fah is leaving Baghdad, having just dropped down
from anchorage, and anchored opposite Residency to wait for mails. I have detained her
this week up to latest safe date (Sunday), hoping hourly situation would open, Rumours were
rife yesterday that she was to be stopped by violence; but if the authorities had been really
prepared to do to, they would not have said so much about it.
27. It is not impossible that Her Majesty’s Government may think first of the injury to
trade (which money compensation can easily makeup) caused by these proceedings; and only
afterwards of the blow now daily being inflicted on our visible (and invisible) power in the
presence of all Her Majesty’s uativc Indian subjects hero, and othors. In the oyes of these
practical {tic) and untutored people, it simply looks as if war had broken out between England and
the Poifce, and the hostilities had for three weeks been all confined to ono sido. Of course this
is a wrong view, but nowbcicdo appearances go for more than here.
28. Last night I 6cnt the Consular dragoman to His Excollcncy the Wali to remonstrate
with him, at the last moment, in a friendly r.ithcr than official spirit indirectly, and as oponing
might occur, on his whole proceedings; but particularly and expressly on his having detained
on board our two stcamois now Iw-ro the parcel-mails of the Government of India, thereby
reducing me to the necessity of sending hack to-day to Busra mails for aught that is known
containing documents or oilier articles sent to me by my Government. On all points ho was