Page 275 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

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CHAPTER XIV.
TURKISH PRETENSIONS TO JURISDICTION OVER THE SflAT-EL-
ARAB AND MOHAMMERAH.
(i) Turkish Jurisdiction on the Shat-el-Arab.
33G. Tho river Shat-el-Arab from its mouth on the Persian Gulf up to a
point little abovo Mohammovah supposed to bo the Khanyan creek separates the
Persian from Turkish territory, and as such tho sovereignty ovor it is joint
betwoen tho two powers; above this point to the Kurnah at tho confluence of
tho two rivers Tigris and Euphrates both its banks aro Turkish.
337. Tho joint and equal rights of navigation of Persia and Turkey over
tho Sliat-cl-Arab so far as it lies between their territories is guaranteed also by
tho Treaty of Erzeroum.
338. Tho Treaty of Erzoroum of the T?£May 1847, between Turkey and
Persia, contains tho following stipulation
“ Article II.
11 Lo Gouvernomcnt Ottoman s’engage forraoUcment H co quo la villo et l'cchello do
Mohammerah, l’ilc do Kizr, le lieu d’ancragc, ot aussi les terrains do la rivo orieutale, e'esfc-
JL-dirc do rive gauche du Shat-cl-Arab, qui sont on la possession dcs tribus rcconnues commo
relevant de la Perso, soientdans la possession du Gouvernomcnt Pcrsan cn pleinc souveraioetd.
Outre ccla, Ics navires Persans auront le droit do naviguer on plcino libortc 6ur 1c Shat-cl-
Arab, depuis l’cndroit oil ce fleuve so jetto dans la mer, jusqu'au point do contact dcs frontifcres
des deux Parties.”
Tho town and port of Mohammorah, and the island of Khizr, with the anchorage, as woll
aB so much of the eastern bank of the Shat-el-Arab as is occupied by tribes confessedly belong­
ing to Persia, are to remain in the possession of Persia, besides which Persians will enjoy tho
complete liberty of navigating the Shat-el-Arab, from its mouth to tho point of contact of
the two frontiers. Soolumancoych will remain in the possession of Turkoy. In regard to
Nohab, the Persian Government settles that all tho mountainous portions with the pass of
Kerrond on its eastern part will bo retained by it, and the plain of Nohab, which forme the
western portion, will be given over to Turkey.
339. The words " so much of the eastern hank of the Shat-el-Arab as is oc­
cupied by tribes confessedly belonging to Persia ” apparently leave a loophole
for intrigues by the Turks on the eastern bank. The history of the Turkish and
Persian dominion on the delta of the Euphrates, Tigris and Karun is involved
in obscurity. Thero is in our records a carefully drawn up memorandum dated
6th January 1844 printed as Appendix A to this Prdcis treating lucidly of the
early history of the Kaab tribe and thoir nominal dopendancy upon Turkey in
the first instance and then on Persia, their respective rights of territory of the
two Powers and tho modern history of Mohammerah, which was sont to tho
British and Russian Commissioners at Erzeroum, and throws much light on
Article II of tho Treaty of Erzeroum,
(ii) Rights of British naval ships to ascend up the Shat-el-Arab.
340. Tho British naval ships as well as'merchantmen have for over a cen­
tury been visiting Basrah, which has always been regarded as a sea-port open to
all nations. Thero was formerly a coal depot at Maaghill, until 1873, when it
was transferred to the new premises near the Consulate.*
341. In 1854 a succession of frigates ascended up the' Shat-el-Arab, and one
Bombay Government Political Department, Voluino of tllCDl at least proceeded Up as far as
14 of 1854, pago so. Kurna—-ns' appears from tho following
report of Sir H. Rawlinson to tho British Embassy, dated 21sfc March 3S54:—
‘‘‘•Your Lordship is probably aware that tho Bombay Government is now ooeupied with
measures for carrying out a sustained naval demonstration in tho Persian Gulf, with a view
of supporting our influences at Tehran and of deterring His Majesty the Shah from again
yielding to the persuasions or monaccs of Russia.
° No sooner had tho Auckland steam frigato roturned from Basrah to Bombay about the
middlo of February than tho Akbar, a vessel of the samo class, was despatched to occupy
her pleco r-d the Ajdaha, a still larger vessel, was to follow on tho 1st of JMaroh, two otbor
frigates being also, I bolievo, under orders for tho samo destination during the months of
April and May. Tho appearance ef these large vessels in quick succession at Bushirc, Karraok
and Basrah and tho notoriety that an expeditionary force is also bold in roadincss in Bombay
See Chapter XII (ii), paragraphs 227—249.
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