Page 340 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Part IV.
308

obtaining definite information as fo when the holders of Bills of Lading for
the specie that had been robbed by the pirates might expect to receive compen­
sation for their losses from tho Turkish Government.
12G. Tho Agents in making this application observed :—
" The arreut of a few men out of so largo/ and evidently well organized a gang, the
recovery of less than one-third of the actual specie seized, and scape from prison of some of
tho principle persons implicated cannot., wo consider. be viewed, after the lapse of bo long a
time, as a satisfactory position of the case, nor does it manifest that energy and dcsiro to meet
the ends of justice on the part of the Turkish ollicials which we were at first led to hopo for.”
127. Colonel Telly sent on tho above representation to Colonel Herbort,
with an intimation that ho would be
Jiii/, No. ci.
glad to receive the particulars asked for
Dated IGth August 1872.
by Messrs. Paul, Gray & Co., Colonel
Herbert's reply was to the effect that tho shippers of specie should make their
application to the Agents of the British India Steam Navigation Company at
tho port of shipment in accordance with the terms of the Bill of Lading ; that
the Company would of course know what answer to give, and would for its own
sake, he presumed, act liberally ; and that the Turkish Government had nothing
to say to individual shippers. Colonel Herbert further alluded to the strenuous
exertions made by himself and others concerned for the recovery of the pro­
perty, and observed, with reference thereto, that the remarks of Messrs. Paul,
Gray & Co., as quoted above, were extremely discouraging.
123. Colonel Herbert’s letter was forwarded by Colonel Pelly to Messrs.
Paul, Gray & Co., who at once paid a just tribute to tho endeavours made both
by Colonel Herbert and Mr. Robertson, admitting that had it not been lor
them the Turkish officials would in all probability have taken little or no trouble
in tho matter. They then proceeded to say :—
“ The clause in Bill of Lading to which Her Majesty's Political Agent refers does not
apply to an act of piracy, from which, on reference to lhat document, it will bo seen by a
preceding clauso the Company arc free from all liability.
*’ Nor do wo consider it to be a ease that has any call ou the private generosity of the
Company.
“It is satisfactory to learn Colonel Herbert' hopes in duo course ' to receive the amount
plundered, aud will immediately make it over to the Agents.

“ It is certainly desirable that tho parties interested should be informed what period
the term • due cour-c' implies. Whothcr or not the Turkish Government have admitted
liability, or if they have given assurances to Her Majesty's representative that the injuries of
suffenrs hy the practical attack would be fully redressed.''
129. In his letter to Riouf Pasha, tho Governor-General of Baghdad, of
vide enclosure to his letter No. 44, dated 25th 24th September last, Colonel Herbert
September u»t. alluded to a verbal acknowledgment
made to him by His Excellency, to the effect that the Turkish Government was
responsible for the losses occasioned by the piratical attack, and in estimating
these losses to be—
Be. a. r.
On account of specie... • •• ... 42,050 0 0
On account of property of officers aud crew ... ... 5,552 6 5

Total ... 47,602 6 5

be expressed a hope that the Governor-General of Baghdad would, in considera­
tion of the lapse of time that had occurred, and was still likely to occur, before
the whole of tho pirates could be arrested and the spccio be recovered, order
the immediate payment to the Baghdad Treasury, for transmission to tho
British India Steam Navigation Company, of the whole amount, reimbursing
the Turkish Government from tho sum which might hereafter bo recovered.
(See for fiual action taken in this matter paragraphs 155-50.)