Page 268 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

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170. Tho general rule is that nil parcels tendered at the po*t offico for despatch should
Outward pared*. Pass through the Custom-house, but it is under­
stood that only such as arc declared or suspected
to contain dutiable* articles shall he so treated.
171. Letter mail bags for Baghdad arc labelled “ FI. M.’s Consul-General, Baghdad,” and
soalcd with a seal bearing the royal arms. Bags
Special mail icals for Turkish Arabia.
from Baghdad for Basra aro laholled “ II. M.'s
Consul. Basra,” and scalod with tho Consul-Gcneial’s official seal. All hags for places bc-
yr.nd Basra aro labelled and sealed in the ordinary way according to Post- Office procedure, but
they are enclosed in ono or m re transit bags which aro labelled H. M.’s Consul, Basra,” aud
sealcii with tho consular seal. At Basra this outer bag is removed.
172. Any unusual occurrence, 6uch as difficulties with the Custom-house, irregularities in
the shipment or landing of mails, and tho like, is
mem romar 0. brought at once by the postmaster to tho notice
of tho Consul-General. The postmaster may bold no written communication with Turkish
officials, it being tho rulo that all communications should pass through the Consul-General.
The postmaster's dealings with officials are restricted to verbal communication in conncciiou
with routine work.
S01-F. In March 1901 tho Porte addressed a note verbale to the British
ambassador complaining of the transport
External A., February 1005, No. 16,
of letters by British mail steamers between
Basra and Baghdad and of the affixing of British stamps to the envelopes.
Major Newmarch pointed out that the practice of carrying letters between
Basrah and Baghdad in British mail steamers after boing posted in the British
Post Officos at those placos was an old one and tho British Porte could not bo
expected to carry letters bearing Turkish stamps or no stamps, though as a
matter of courtesy merely, a Turkish mail beg was still carried to and from
the various ports on the river at the sole risk of the Turkish authorities.

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