Page 236 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

210 Part III
arrangomonts and gave to Turkey tlio postal rights and privileges possessed by
other nations who had joined the Postal Union. It was stated further that
the Ottoman Postal Administration was prepared to take over the entiro
management of the posts in Turkish Arabia and in right of the convention the
ppression of the post offices at Baghdad and Basrah and the abolition of the
6U
Syrian Desert post was demanded. The memorandum also set forth that under
Articles 3 and 4 of the Paris Convention, Messrs. Lynch & Co. were bound to
carry gratuitously all Turkish mails between Baghdad and Basrah and part of
paragraph 8 of Article 4 was quoted in support of this view.
172. In replying to the Ottaman Minister for Foreign Affairs the Embassy
at Constantinople pointed out that a per­
Ibid No. 4S7.
usal of the whole of paragraph 8 of Article
4 of the Convention showed that the concluding portion directly contravened
the proposition, as it provided that for distances under 300 nautical miles pay­
ment should be made at the rate of 2 francs per kilogramme of letters and
25 centimes por kilogramme of other articles. In drawing up his memorandum
the Diroctor-Genoral of Ottoman Posts had assumed that the distance between
Baghdad and Basrah was 250 nautical miles, which is probably the actual dis­
tance from poiut to point in a direct line, but by the tortuous course of the
river, the distanco is ovor 500 miles, and it was shown, therefore, that under
Article 2 of the Convention Messrs. Lynch & Co. would be entitled to the
higher rates of 15 francs per kilogramme of letters and postcards and 1 franc
per kilogramme of other articles. The Ottoman proposals were, however, rejec­
ted on tho broad ground that there would be a loss offacility for commerce bet­
ween India and Turkish Arabiaf which the British post office at Basrah and
Baghdad secured, chiefly from the inevitable imperfections of the Turkish
Bostal Service.
173. In dealing with the same question the Government of India repre­
sented to the Secretary of State : —
Ocipntcb No. 41, dattd 6tb Octobor 18S4.
"There can bo no question that the maintenance of our post offices, thus restricted in
their operations, is couduoivo to tho interests of commerce aud to the conveuienco of a large
number of British subjeots in India. The monthly receipts from the two offices are estimated
as at least Rs. 1,300 a month, and are expected to increase. On tho other hand, wo have no
confidtnco whatever in tho efficiency of any service that t he Turkish authorities might substi­
tute for that which now exists, and which was introduced with their consent and has extended
only in response to the commercial demands upon it. IVe cannot therefore be indifferent to
the menanccs, which threaten the interruption ot a safe and cheap communication between
Turkish-Arabia and India. If our post offices are closed at Baghdad and Basrah, tho parcel
post would cease in the absence of any special convention, and tho rates of postage on lotters,
which are now carried at the ordinary iuloud rates, would bo raised to the union rates of three
annas for the half ounce.
" Under these circumstances, we trust that Her Majesty’s Government will find occasion
to make such representations to the Ottoman Porte on the subject as shall ensure the conti
nuance of the present system of postal communication, until at least a more substantial
guarantee for its maintenance by the Turkish authorities has been obtained than is contained
in the demands communicated to Her Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople.”
174. Although all questions affecting the very existence of the British
Indian post offices at Baghdad and Basrah were tho subject of diplomatic dis­
cussion at Constantinople, tho local administration did not in any way relax the
course of obstruction upon which it had entered in 1881, and every obstacle was
thrown in tho way of the working of the English mail steamers on the Tigris.
In Juno 1884 on arrival of the river mail strainer at Ali Gharbi tho Comman­
der sent his launch to land passengers and cargo and doliver a few local loiters.
On tho launch going alongside of the bank the clerk of the.Turkish Telegraph
Office and several other persons demanded the letters from the purser’s servant
who had been sent with the launch to deliver them. Tho servant refused to
give the letters up except to the addrosses aud was obliged therefore to carry
them hack to tho steamer. The steamer proceeded on her way, but on arrival
at Kut, to quote from the Commander’s report.
“ Zapliehs (Turkish Gcndcrmcriel were placed of each of mv gangways and every person
leaving tli« ship was searched by them for any letters they might have and several morchants
informed shippers that ih<j Zaptiehs had orders to echo any person who in futuro attempted to
deliver letters thcie which did not bear Turkish stamps.