Page 331 - Gulf Precis (III)_Neat

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CHAPTER VIII.

SPECIMENS OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE ARAB LITTORAL
1800.

4. Tko following correspondence should be read as it gives us a good idea
into the uature of the complaints coming
Political A., Juno 18UG, Noa. 28-29.
before the Resident.
No. 28.
From C. Gonne. Esq., Secretary to Government, Bombay, to the Secretary to the Government
of India, Foreign Department, with the Governor tieueral,—No. 114, dated the 2lst
May 1868.
I am directed to forward to you, for submission to tho Government of
India, the accompanying copy of a letter, and of its enclosures, from the Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf, No. 43, dated the 23rd ultimo, and to state that
the views of this Government on the important subject discussed in these paper
will be shortly submitted to His Excellency the Governor General in Council.
No. 29.
From Likutena.nt-Colo.vel Lewis Pelly, Her Britannic Majesty's Political Resident, Persian
Galf, to C. Gonne, Esq., Secretary to Government, Bombay,—No. 48, dated Bushire,
the 23rd April 1866.
Although loath to trouble Government with petty details, I would ven­
ture to append a few specimens of the complaints that reach their representa­
tive from the littoral of the Persian Gulf; and these should not be considered as
selected specimens, for I have taken them one by one as they have to-day
turned up, and the records show thousands of such cases.
2. Eormerly the Resident would have despatched a vessel of the Gulf
Squadron, with an Assistant or Agent on board, to enquire into the cases, and
with instructions, failing satisfactory arbitrament, to blockade, fine, or other­
wise punish. But under the more recent expression of views by the Indian
Government, I do not feel at liberty to use any coercive measures, or to levy
any fine, unless under the explicit instructions of Government.
3. It so chances that at the present moment a vessel of war is arrived at
Bushire. But, although I am sure tho Commodore desires to co-operate to the
best of his power, the Commander considered himself bound to suggest, within
12 hours of landing, his proceeding to the East Coast of Africa, where his duties
call him to protect the liberty of the
• He leaves the Wahhaboe Envoy* here and their
bneineta un&niahed. African races against the Arabs ; and the
Commander has finally sent me a note of
(Sd.) Liwia Pjllt.
departure, which I beg to append,*
4. Were I now to propose to the Commander any prolonged enquiry
Vii. mj letter to Go.en.n.ent, No. 3, d.ted °r other measures, the reply would simply
18th January 1888, ilnecat, paragraph 6, Clau.e be that he OOUld not retain hlS VOSSCl in
3,T. ^ ... the Gulf. This will, I hope, convince
them to attend to my raqniaition, bat to leave the Government as to Wliat I might have
Gulf by a certain day. expected from the Highflyer had I asked
s SffJjS?tSZ L‘:rJ ier to remain in the Gulf.
the delay of enquiry. I could not carry OOO caae
through under the name orders.
6. I am in the present instance reduced to requesting the Commander of
Pantaloon to leave on his passage down the Gulf a letter at Kiahm for the Gov­
ernor of that place giving him the warning
Government tetter. No. 949, dated 5th April
1868, paragraph 3. which Government have instructed me to
give the Muscat Authorities, unlawfully
interfering with their subjects. And in the meantime I moat respectfully solicit
the instructions of Government as to the means by which I should proceed,
and as to the manner in which I should proceed, with the partioular cases now