Page 351 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter XX. 319
201. On 10th January Mr. Plowdcn again wrote to the Governor-General ;
ho naked for copica of the depositions taken up to date : ho recorded an
“ emphatic protest " against Mahomed Saleh's supposed rclcaso on bail and
“ demanded *' Ilia arrest.
202. On lltli January the Governor-General replied: he ignored both
requests and asserted that prompt and vigorous measures wore being taken.
Bo also asked that tlio Agency Dragoman should bo sent to Court to watch the
case.
Again, the same day, the Governor-General asked that Mrs. Milne,
" accompanied by an officer,” might bo sent to Court to give evidence. But
Mr. Plowdcn did not comply.
203. On 12th January Mr. Plowdcn again wrote to the Governor-General
saying that he had learnt that Mahomed .Saleh had not bocu arrested or had
been released, as he had supposed—
"Although my requests were stated in plain and unmistakable language I observe
with profound surprize and regret that Your Excellency’s letter passes them over without any
the smallest notice.”
He again asked for copies of the depositions, and “demands'1 tlio “im­
mediate ” arrest of Mahomed Saleh.
201. The same day (12th January) he telegraphed to the Foreign Office
that even Englishmen were afraid to give evidence against Mahomed Saleh.
Although Mr. Plowden had demanded an early reply to his letter of 12th, none
was sent on 13th.
205. On 14th January Mr. Plowden conferred with his French and Russian
colleagues; they concurred with him as to a Mixed Commission and tele­
graphed to their respective Governments to that effect.
206. The same day the Governor-General replied to Mr. Plowden's letter of
12th to the offcct that Mahomed Saleh could not be arrested without proof, and
Mr. Plowden’s action in refusing to allow Mrs. Milne to givecvidcnco prevented
the proof being forthcoming. His Excellency complained that the Agency
Dragoman had been ordered not to sign the depositions—in short, that Mr,
Plowden was obstructive. And he hoped Mr. Plowden wrould admit that his
protest regarding the non-arrest of Mahomed Saleh was “ incompatible with
justice aud propriety.”
207. On 16th January Mr. Plow'den replied that if sufficient evidence
against Mahomed Saleh was not forthcoming, it was because tlio action of the
police had been “ perfunctory and inefficient in the highest degree that the
police were under the control of tho Governor-General, and consequently a
“very grave responsibility” rested on Bis Excellency.
208. At first sight it would seem as if there was on tlio part of Mr. Plowden
a want of political sagacity in the management of this affair. Tho crime was
not political, and in ordinary circumstances it would have been wiso to have
avoided giving it tho political importance which it had assumed. Mr. Plowden's
refusiug to allow Mrs. Milno to give evidence and his instructions to his
Dragomans not to sign the depositions appeared to he a mistake.
209. Mr. Plowdon justified his actions by the peculiar circumstances of the
Mr. Flowdon’a report to tlio Foreign OlTico. regime that existed at the time at Baghdad.
8ccrct, March 1831, Nob. 203—8W (No. 290.) There was absolutely no prospect of
foreigners obtaining justico in its Law Courts or tho Turkish Police doing any-
tiling to secure tho perpetrators of the worst crimes. Tho fact that the culprits
in tho recent outrages against the British were still at largo fully corroborated
this assumption. Mr. Plowden was supported in all his proceedings by the
other Foreign Consuls.
210. Mrs. Milne was afterwards taken to tho Turkish Criminal Court to give
evidence and Mahomed Saleh was arrested.
Secret, May 1681, No*. 20G—323.
Both ho and his servant Ahmed were duly
tried, but tho former was acquitted for want of sufficient evidence to prove his.