Page 257 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XII. 231
by the lied Sea arid Egypt involves a erst of Its. 2,93.000 to the revenues of India. Irrespcctivo
of this route, there me at present two lines of telegraph available, to one of which the Imperial
Treasury contributes largely. Should complications in Egypt at any time interrupt the
ovorland route, the presont service between Baghdad and Damascus would be quite insufficient
for the TcquiromcntH of the Indian Post Office ; and it would be as easy to organise an entirely
new service to the extent which the traffic would demand. Under these circumstances we do
not consider that the expenditure of Its. 200 a month on the Dromedary post through Asia
Minor is a charge that can with propiicty continue to be borne by the revenues of India.
“ As regards the Political Agent at. Baghdad, it appears to us that this correspondence
with England and Constantinople might he conducted with nearly, if not quite, ns great speed
by way of the lied Sea. AVe cannot but think that in maintaining a post to connect Baghdad
with India, and with tho overland mail, tho Indian Government docB all that can be reasonably
expected of it.”
256. Consequently tlio Indian payment of Us. 200 per mensem was with­
drawn, and the Dromedary post appears, since 1871, to have been self-supporting,
which it is apprehended, it could hardly he without carrying private and com­
mercial correspondence to some considerable extent.
257. In 1V75 the Porte raised objections to tho conveyance of private corres­
pondence by this lino. The matter was referred to the Government of India
and the Secretary of State was addressed as follows in a despatch No. 20, dated
30tli September 1875 (Financial Department Proceedings, October le75,
No. 12):—
“ We gather that no exception is taken by the Porte to the convenience by the direct
lino between Boyrout and Baghdad via Damascus of local British official correspondence,
even of through correspondence (whether official or private) transmitted by sea either from or
to Beyrout. But the Turkish authorities object to the utilisation of this line for local privato
corrc.-pf-ndcnce, which does not exceed 20 covers a month, originating in Syria, and destined
for Baghdad, or vice versa, because a loss of postal revenue is thereby caused.
“ The Turkish authorities may, perhaps, when they learn the trilling extent of this
correspondence, withdraw their objection. Otherwise, the best arrangement would seem to
be to transfer all private correspondence intended for delivery in Turkish territory to the
Post Office in Damascus, which can then levy postage on delivery. Similarly, privato covers
originating in Turkish territory, and intended for delivery in . Baghdad, might he received
by the British Consul at Damascus only through the local Pest Otlico which could realise
postage in advance.
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" The only interest of India in this line lies in the romote contingency of an interruption
in the communication thnugh Egypt ; but it is very important to the community of Baghdad,
whose correspondence with Baghdad, Beyrout, Egypt, and Europe is conveyed by it.”
268. Iu 1881 the Ottoman Government established a dromedary post
between Baghdad and Damascus running side by side with the English Consular
post and demanded the suppression of the latter. After some pressure, the
British post was recognized. But the demand was reiterated on various
pretexts until the line was closed in 1386, not, it must he said, in doferenee
to the wishes of tho Ottoman Government, but owing partly to a failure of
funds locally to there being no longer the same necessity as formerly lor its
maintenance.
(iv) Proposed construction of a dam across the Tigris, 1879.
259. In connection with the steamer service on the Tigris an instance may be
mentioned, in which the navigation of the
Political A., September 1879, Noi. 807*842.
river had a narrow escape of being seri­
ously interrupted, if not permanently injured. Owing to very little snow hav­
ing fallen in tho mountains of Armenia duriug the winter of 1878-79, t.lie river
did not rise in the followiug auiuiun to tho usual level necessary to Ikod the
rice fields which border the river banks about the lower reaches, and fears were
entertained that tho rice crop would he lost. To meet this danger the Vali*s
Government at Baghdad announced their intention of throwing a dam across
the river near Ezra’s tomb.
260. This announcement met with loud protests from the merchants of
different naiionalitios in Baghdad, lleprcsentations were made to tho Vali that
commerce, would ho wholly checked, that the loss of customs revenue would be
greater than the value of the rioe crop, and that above all the navigation of
the Tigris might ho permanently injured. In tho low season every year the
navigation of the river is extremely difficult and iu dark nights steamers aro
compelled to anchor.