Page 269 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

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CHAPTER XIII.
The building of a Turkish Fort at Fao and the establishment of
Military posts on the Shat-el-Arab.
302. At the time when the Treaty of Erzeroum between Turkey and Persia
in 1847 was drafted by the British and
External A., March 18S9, Noi. 338-283 (249).
Russian Commissioners, who acted as
mediators, the Turkish Government objected to tho relinquishment to Persia of
the island of Kyzr, on which a portion of the town of Mohainmerah is situated,
and withdrew their objections on the condition that no fortifications should
bo erected on tho island, or at any point where they could iutorforo with the
free navigation of the river.
303. In March 1848, tho Turkish Government submitted to the British
Commissioner a proposal for an addition to Article 2 of the Treaty which they
desired should be inserted in the Acts of Ratification. The clause in question
contained a formal engagement on the part of the Persian and Turkish Govern­
ments reciprocally to abstain from erecting fortifications on the banks of the
Shat-cl-Arah in their respective possessions. The Turkish negotiators consented
to sign the Treaty in its original form on receiving an assurance from the
British and Russian Commissioners that the wishes of the Porte on these and
other points would be supported at Teheran. With some dilboulty the British
Minister at Teheran obtained the consent of the Shah to the condition as to
the non-erection of fortifications, and still further pressure had to be used by
the British and Russian Ambassadors at Constantinople before a formal assur­
ance could be obtained from the Persian Ambassador on tho subject.
304. The Sublime Porte, however, required further that this assurance should
be confirmed and endorsed by the British and Bussian representatives and the
latter accordingly addressed a joint note to tho Porte on the 1S48, to
which tho declaration of the Persian Envoy was attached, and which contains
the following passage :—
“ La declaration de l’Envoye Pcrsan enoncc enfin, quant a la defense rcciproque de bfih’r
des fortifications sur les coles du Sliat-el-Arab, ou les possessions dcs deux etals so trouvent
opphsces les uncs aux autres, une resolution du Shah pleincment confonne au dcsir exprime par
la sublime portc ct appuye a Teheran par les bons offices des doux Reprcscntauts mediateurs,
e’est st-diro que lc Schali consent a o* qu' aussi longtemus qua la Turquci ne batira point de
fortifb alions sur la rive droito du Shat-ol-Arab, situcc vis-a-vis du territore Persan, la Perse
a son tour s’adstiendra d'en couetruire sur la parlie de la rive gauche, qui lui revient selou les
stipulations du traito."
305. In December 18SG, the Governor-General of Basrah informed the
British Consul at Basrah that the Tur­
External A., March 1886, No. 2G3.
kish Government contemplated building
a large fort at Fao, and that active measures were being taken.
306. From a report sent by Colonel Tweedio on 11th March 18S7, it appears
there had been a talk at Basrah of an
External A , May 1887. Noe 126 136.
intention to build a fort at Fao, and that
Turkish officers had frequently visited Fao, since 1S83. There is nothing in
our records about this movement, and the first report we bad was about the
mention made to the Consul at Basrah in December 1S85 of the project.
•307. The fort was to bo built in a date plantation by tho scasido belonging to
the Sheikh of Kowict, Mahomcd-el-Sabah.
External A., May 1887, Noi. 129*136.
The Sheikh came to Basrah to protest
against this encroachment on his proporty, hut tho Yali and the Sheikh do not
appear to have come to any understanding about the ground taken for the
fortifications. One hundred and sixty
External A., Jnne 1887, No*. 163-176.
soldiers proceeded to Fao in May i8SG,
with building materials, and the work of building commenced immediately.