Page 453 - Gulf Precis (VII)_Neat

105

CHAPTER XV. *

British Political Agency in illckran and Persian Baluchistan.
293. Ibrahim Khan, llie Persian Governor of Bampur, having laid claim
to tho Maskat dependency of Gwadur, and threitonod to attack the place and
put a atop to the construction of the Mekrau section of the Indo-European
line of telegraph, tho Political Agont at. Maskat, at. the request of Mr. Mansfield,
Commissioner in Sind, obtained the consent of the Sultan of Maskat to the
landing of British troops at Gwadur for tho protection of the telegraph
working parties.
29 k The Commissioner having strongly recommended that tho Sultan's
consent should betaken advantage of, the Government of Bombay sanctioned
the proposal on tho understanding that nothing in the shape of a military
occupation of Gwadur, beyond what was necessary for tho effective protection
of the working parties within Khelat territory, and the possessions of the
Sultan of Maskat, should he attempted without express orders from the Govern­
ment of India. At the same time tho Government of Bombay observed, that if
the officer whom the Commissioner had been authorized to select as the Assistant
Political Agent, Khelat, were left at Gwadur with a small personal escort, in
all probability nothing would be scon of any Persian force.
295. By letter No, 1G, dated 14th April 1863, the Bombay Government
•No. 208.dated 20th April 1663. (Political reported the case to the Government of
A., May 1863, Nos. 52—56.) India; in reply* the Bombay Government
was desired to report what action the Commissioner in Sind had taken on the
discretionary power vested in him; in letter No. 39, dated 5th May 1863, the
Bombay Government intimated that Mr. Mansfield had nominated Lieutenant
E. C. Ross to the political duties at Gwadur, had recommended that us Gwadur
belonged to Maskat, Lieutenant Boss should he Assistant to tho Agent at
Maskat, as well as to the Khelat Agent; and had sent a hundred of the rural
police under a Native Officer to Gwadur, as the Government of Bombay was
averse from any military being stationed tliero. The Government of Bombay,
in submitting this information to the Government of India, reported that
Lieutenant Ross would be gazetted as
t Political A., July 1803, No.. 14-45.
Assistant to the Political Ageuts at
Maskat and Khelat.t
296. No reply appears to have been made to the above communication and
: m. letter rol.tol to 11,. question of th. sob- the maI teF r«'St‘'d U,ltil }8G9’ "hon Captain
.idica p»yabl« to ti.o MricMn Chief, for tho Ross writing? as Assistant Political
protection of tho Mlegmjjtf Imo. Ageut, Mekrail,” said—
“ On leaving M elf ran Colonel Goldsmid has requested me to consider myself referee in
all po itical matters affecting the telegraph from die Hubb to Be\la, using discret'on, the
principal Political Officer an well as yoursclf.§ It
§ Sio original.
is (Lionel Goldsraid's intention to recommend
Government to alter tho nature of my appointment in a manner which will improve my
position in some respects. I trust, when you have them, you will concur with Colonel
Goldsmid’s views and recommend their early adoption.
297. The Commissioner in Sind (Sir William Merewether), in submitting
the case to tho Governmcut of Bombay, remarked :—
“ 1 trust that it may be in accordance with Your Excellency's views to entertain the
request Captain Ito>6 alludes to in the 13t.n paragraph of his lotter, and I would beg most
slronglv to fupp"rt nny r commendation that may be adduced with the view of belter definition
of that officer's position, making it more satisfactory to himself, and so at the time more
advantageous to the public interests. At present he h is no clear position, but if ho was made
Political Agent on the Mekrau Coast generally, ho would interfere with no other political
This chapter is mainly iudubtod to the nolo, in External A, February 1836, No*. 188*20.