Page 237 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XL 211
170. Tho matter wag reported to tho Embassy at Constantinople and an
assurance obtained from tho Sublimo Porto that no further interference would
bo allowed.
177. Tho results of tho rocout correspondence and orders wore summed up
by Mr. Plowden in his despatch No. 411—
External A., February 1885, No. 8-1.
48, dated 12th Juno 1884, to Lord
I)uflorin :—
'* Tho presnnt position of tho gonr»ral question appears to bo as follows : My despatch
No. 56, dated 5th December 188-1, submitted five matters for your Excellency’s consideration,
(1) The objcot ion able character of the new provisional arrangemont relating to the
Anglo-Indian parcel post.
(2) Tho closuro of the branch post oflico in tho town of Basrah.
(3) The withdrawal of tho privilege of franking heretofore accordod to certain Ottoman
officials
(4) The relinquishment of the carriago of looal lettors by tho steamors of tho Euph­
rates and Tigris Stnam Navigation Company.
(5) Tho conveyance of Ottoman mail bags in British ocean-going steamers.
With regard to the first of these matters Your Excellency has already ashed the Porte id
issun instructions directing the authorities at Baghdad to revert to tho original arrangement
established by Sir Arnold Kemball and Namylr Pasha in 18(53, and both the Government
of India and the Director-General of Indian Poet Olficos entirely concur in tho expediency
of this course.
There is also complete unanimity of opinion in respect to the second, the third and fourth
matters ; that is to say. the Government of India and the Indian postal authorities agree to
the abolitiou of the towu post office at Basrah ; to the withdrawal of the frankiug privilege;
and to the relinquishment of tho carriage of local letters by Lynch Co/s stpamers, and I
shall be prepated to take the necessary action for carrying out these moasurcs whenever Your
Excellency thinks that the proper lime for doing so has arrived. I hope also that tho result
of them will be the removal once for all of every reasonable pretext for interference by tho
Ottoman authorities with tho British Indian post.
In respect to the last matter—the exclusion of local letters—it is proposed to give notico
in the Indian Postil Guido and at tho British post offices at Basrah and Baghdad—
(1) That tho British post office only undertakes to carry letters between its own offices.
(2) That letters posted in any British post oflico for Kut-cl-Amara, Amara or other
towns in Turkish Arabia except Eao, Basrah, or Baghdad will be transferred
for disposal to the Ottoman post offices.
(3) That the distribution of letters will bo mado on the premises of the British
post offices in tho Consulates of Baghdad and Basrah; and letters not applied
tor within 21 days after receipt will be treated as unclaimed.
(4) That tho letter-boxes on board tho mail steamers of tho Euphrates and Tigris
Company will be removed and the Agents directed not to accept or delivor any
letter or mail bag except from or to the British authorities at Basrah and
Baghdad.
With regard to the remaining matter—the conveyance of Ottoman mail bogs hy British
ocean-going steamers—Your Exccllcucy has decided to await representations from the Porte,
and tho Government of India is also unwilling to disturb existing arrangement. No im­
mediate action is therefore icquired.”

(vi) Turkish demands for abolition of the British Postal Service in
1885-87.
178. In 1885 when a demand was made by tho Porto for tlio abolition of
Foreign post offices on the ground that
External A., January 188G, No. 93-A.
Turkey was a Postal Union country, the
instructions from His Majesty’s Government to tho Minister at Constantinople
were—
,(Should there he nny attempt on tho part of tho Turkish authorities to revive tho question
or to demand the suppression of tho British post offices (in Turkish-Arabia you should repre­
sent to tho Porte that Her Majesty’s Government cannot consent to abandon the present
system of postal communication in Turkish Arabia, at any rate until a thoroughly efficient
service is set on foot and mniutaiued by tho Ottomau authorities/’