Page 304 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

274 Part III.
directed to afford their friondly assistance with a view to facilitating, as far as lies in their
power, the operations for tho suppression of rivor piracy which have become incvitablo iu
the absence of any other moans of preserving tranquillity and recovering damages.
Her Majesty's Minister at Tehran has* made a similar communication to tho Persian
• Till* wai dono on lit September. Government.
475. Tho noto was presented on 6th Soptember by Mr. Marinitsch to Twcfilc
Pasha, who on its perusal said that Turkish vessels also suffored from these
piracies, which were perpetrated from the Persiah shore, where anarchy
prevailed, and that ho had suggested to tho Grand Vizier to cause one or two
Turkish mon-of-war to be despatched from Basrah to patrol the Shat-el-Arab.
476. On the 23rd September 1898 the British Ambassador telegraphed to
tho Resident:—
Secret E., February 1899, Nos. 16-33 (No. 17).
“ Porto states that tho Vali of Basrah has taken sufficient measures to prevent piracy in the
Shat-el-Arab by sending armod force to both banks of the river uuder the Command of the
Chiof of tho Gcudarmoric at Basrah. 1 should ho glad to learn by telegraph what has boon
actually done."
477. It was then ascertained from
Ibid (No. 29).
Her Majesty’s Consul at Basrah that—
" Ono hundred and two Gendarmes arc distributed between thirteen different stations on
tho Turkish side of the river under the Command of the Chief of the Gendarmerie on this
district : thirty native boats have been placed at their disposal to enable them to patrol the
river. There arc also two small armed vessels patrolling the river at different points."
478. It will bo noticed that tho Porte spoko of armed force having been
sent to both banks of the river, while the Consul at Basrah reported that the
Turkish force was distributed on the Turkish side only.
479. In his despatch No. 610, dated 28th September 1898, Sir N. O’Conor
reported that Twe-fik Pasha, in informing
Ibid (No. 20).
him of the measures taken for preventing
disturbances on the river, expressed his belief that they were sufficient for tho
attainment of the object in view without the assistance of a British gunboat.
In replying Sir N. O’Conor expressed tho belief that Her Majesty’s Gov­
ernment would receive with satisfaction the intelligence of these active
measures.
480. On 9th November 1898 Sir N. O’Conor wrote to say that ho had learnt
from the Resident at Baghdad of tho
Ibid (No. 26).
active measures taken by the local
authorities on the Persian side of the river for the prevention of piracy, but
that the Resident feared that no measures taken by the local authorities were
likely to he of much use if the British gunboats were removed. The Porta
was at the same time very anxious,to discover whothcr the British gunboats
would be withdrawn.
481. The gunboat in Shat-el-Arab was ordered to ho withdrawn by tho
Admiral, but the Consul at Basrah was
Hid (No. 30).
anxious that she should remain till the end
of the date season and Sir N. O’Conor was inclined “ to get something out of
the Ottoman Governments for withdrawal.”—(Telegram dated 1st December
1898, from SirN. O’Conor to the Foreign Office).
482. The reply of the Foreign Office
Ibid (No. 33).
dated 10th December 1898 was—
n You can take wbat course you think best as regards making conditions for withdrawal
of gunboat from Sbat-el-Arab. The gunboat now leaving will be replaced."
483. We don’t know what Sir N. O’Conor obtained for tho withdrawal of
Secret e., Norcmbcr 1899. No. go. t]xo Sunboat after the date season. Such
„ „ measures as were taken in 1898 appear to
B..»tE„o<fW isoo, *0.17*. have been repeated in 1899 by tho
Turkish and Persian authorities, but a British gunboat was stationed in
the Shat-cl-Arab during tho date season. (See SirN. O’Conor’s telegram dated
29th August 1899 and also Mr. Shipley’s letter to the Embassy dated 28th
August 1900.)