Page 43 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

Chapter I. 21

75. In March 184.7, ono Itngliib Pasha was doputod by the Porto to Bagh­
dad with a firman and sword of honor for Nejib Pasha. The presentation of
those to the Pasha was celebrated with much eclat in Baghdad, Raghib was after
the celebrations to proceed to Basrah for tlio purpose of inspecting Basrah and
the river Shat-cl-Arab and the country adjoining with a view to find means to
incroaso the revenue, improve the town, and incrcaso the Turkish fleet at the
mouth of the Shat-cl-Arab. Thorowas great danger of the mission exciting the
susceptibility of the Montefik Arabs, who claimed the dato plantation near
Basrah as their own, and of secondly irritating the Persian authorities, who
would by no means relish tlio prospect
Sccrot. C.i dated 23tli May 1947, No*. 47-49.
of the presence of a large Turkish fleet
on tho Shat-ol-Arab (Major Rawlinson’s despatch to tho British Embassy,
dated 31st March 1817).
70. As tho Turkish guardsliip still continued to block the mouth of tho
Hafar, on the protests from tho Persian Government and tho represent­
ation of Major Bawlinson made at Colonel Sheilas instance to Nejib Pasha, orders
were sent by the Pasha immediately to withdraw the Turkish guardship from
its position off the mouth of the Hafar Canal to the Basrah road (Major
Itawlinson’s despatch to the British Em­
Secret C.i dated 28th January 1818, No*. 23-28.
bassy, dated 12th October 184.7).
77. By the treaty of Erzeroum signed by tho Turco-Persian Commis­
sioners on 1st May 1817, it was adjudged that—
M The town of Mohammerah and the island of Khizr, with the anchorage, as well as
eo much of the eastern bank of the Shat-el-Arab as is ocoupicd by tribes confessedly belong­
ing to Persia, are to remain in the possessions of Persia, besides which Persians will enjoy
complete liberty of navigating the Shat-ol-Arab from its mouth to the point of contact of
the two frontiers.”
78. As under this treaty Mohammerah passed under Persia, Sheikh Jabir
soon made terms with that Government and was installed as Governor of Mo­
hammerah. The ex-Sheikh Thamer having never been able to return to bis
territory, there sank with him the glory of his tribe. The subsequent history of
Mohammerah and the Kaab country falls under Arabistan and is treated in the
Arabislan Freds.

(iv) Crimean war and the attitude of Persia towards England
and Turkey.
79. During Crimean war in 1851 fears were entertained lest Persia should
join hands with Russia and declare war against England and Turkey. Tho Gov­
ernor of Dizful massed troops on the frontier for the avowed purpose of execut­
ing a coup d’moin upon the city of Basrah, whereupon tho Pasha of Baghdad
summoned the Arab tribes to arms as a measure of defence and was engaged in
negotiations with Sheikh Jabir, the disaffected Chief of Mohammerah, in ordor
to secure his co-operation in the event of the further advance of the Persian
troops. A collison between the two parties would have been brought about
by the last acoident. But this danger was lessened by the presence of the |
British steam frigate Auckland at Basrah, which had been despatched by
the Bombay Government in view of the critical situation in the Gulf (Colonel !
Rawlinson’s Dospatch No. 2, dated 25th
Secret C., dated 2Gtb May 1854, No. 46.
January 1854-, to the British Embassy).
The Persian Government ultimately decided to adopt an attitudo of neutrality
during the war.
(v) Persian and Turkish pretensions to the island of Shallah (1877
—1884) and the complaints of Persia against Turkey, 1877-78.
80. The island or rather the small mud-band of Shallah in the Sbat-el-
Seerct C., dated October 1877, Noi. 37-144. (No. aPPeaJ,an.CG in about
139). 1S70 above the water-level has become
a bone of contention between Turkey and Persia. A description of the place
and how it was first occupied by Turkish authorities was given by Surgeon-
Major Colvill, in his letter, dated 16th July 1877 :—
[SG46FD]