Page 80 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

GS Part I.
of plunder whiob could bo identified by tbclr Indian and Persian owners wore at onco restored
to them by the Turkish Officers. In fact I have neither received complaints myself in tho
scoro of plunder from any Indian resident of Nejef nor do I hoar that any such complaints
have been addressed by tho Porsian residents to their protecting authority.
i
Posh id Paslm is still absent from the city but is expected to return in tho course of tho
ourront week,
(v) Major Rawlinson’s policy in regard to Arab tribes; how thwarted by British
Merchants—1852.
138. Tho following despatch of Colonel llawlinson (No. 26, dated 21at
August 1S52), discloses the policy followed by him and liow tho British
merchants thwarted his schemes :—
The British merchants of Baghdad having raised the question of their right, to roquiro
the intervention of the llou’ble East India Company's armed steamer upon the Tigris for tho
protoction of their mcrcantilo interests, now suffering much from tho disorganization of tho
country and the inability of the Turkish Government to afford redress, 1 am constrained to
bring the subject under tho consideration of tho Most Noble the Governor-General of India
in Council, with reference to our geuoral policy in this part of Asia.
2. The British Government has undoubtedly at present, owing to tho efficient establish­
ment which she has kept up for the last (30 years in Turkish Arabia, a paramount local influ­
ence, and there aro two European Jcnvoutualitics, not perhaps imminent, but certainly to bo
looked for in duo course of time, which may render that inllucnce of great importance to India.
One of these eventualities is the resumption of those schemes of ambition and nggrandizemont
which would probably inaugurate the reign of a new Russian Emperor; the othor is the dis­
memberment of Turkey, which in tho present sinking condition of the Empire would be the
almost certain consequence of a European war.1
3. I have thus considered it my duly, since my nomination to the Political Agency of
Turkish Arabia, to adopt a general conciliatory conduct, and to strengthen and extent our
local influence, as far as that end may be attainable without giving umbrage to tho Turkish
authorities. In the prosecution of these objects too my hands have been greatly strengthened
by tho presence of the Ilon’ble Co/s armed steamer upon the river, and by the success of hor
Commander in cultivating friendly relations with the Arab tribes, although in times of anarchy,
such as have prevailed in thisPashalic for the last five years, the mere tie of friendliness must
be expected sometimes to give way to an appetite for plunder and revenge, there is, no doubt,
but that tho Arabs generally of this part of Asia look up to the British Government with
admiration and would not willingly offend its officers. That the British merchants of Baghdad,
indeed, do not partako more largely in the benefits of this friedly feeling is in a great measure
their own fault. They are continually protesting against the river dues, on which the Arab
Chiefs depend for their support, they pursue their Arab debtors with relentless severity, they
exact compensation for losses through tho instrumentality of Turkish Officials, which is of all
things the most distasteful to the independent Arabs.
4. The question which now arises is whether the merchants having thus embroiled them­
selves with the tribes, are justified in turning round on the Political Ageut, and claiming the
armed intervention of the Ilon’ble East India Company’s steamer on their behalf, whether in
fact the personal interests of a commercial houso are to outweigh all considerations of policy
and oblige the British autborites to exchange their friendly relations with the Arab Chiefs for
an attitude of intimidation and hostility. At the present moment the case is morcly hypothetical
for neither can the Steamer “ Nitocris,” owing to her crippled condition, be sent upon servico
nor have tho Turks authorized our armed interference, but I think it extremely probable that
the Governor of Baghdad, finding himself altogether unable to deal with the Arabs, will ere long
invite us to take the law into our own hands, and on the f# Nitocris" being replaced by the
“ Comet ”, now under orders for the Tigris, it will thus become necessary that tho general
question should be brought to .an issue under authority.
5. My own opinion is that it would be highly inexpedient to bring our steamer needlessly
}
into collision with the Arabs, and that British merchants should be grateful to tho Hon bio
East India Company for the moral support, and the opportunity of convey which is afforded
by the presence of an Indian vessel of war on the Tigris, rather than dissatisfied that they can
obtain no more; but in order to enable the Most Noble the Governor-General of India in
Council to arrive at a decision, I deem it my duty to forward copies of the letters which have
passed upon tho subject between this Political Agency and one of the Baghdad Mercantile
houses, and which give in sufficient, detail tho chief arguments upon either side.
I further think it proper to state that the chargo of indifference to their interests imputed
by Messrs. Hector & Co., to the Commander of the steamer on the Tigris is altogether
undeserved. Captain Jones has on all occasions recommended the interests of the British mer­
chants to the different Arab Chiefs with whom he has bcon brought in contact, and the roer-
chants have more than once benefitted by this interference, and have gratefully acknowledge
it. Captain Jones indeed on his last trip from Bussorah, although his vescel was cripple ,
actually offered to couvey, through the disturbed districts, the very boat whose pluudcr is now