Page 215 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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63. On 28th April, Colonel Herbert again telegraphed na follows :—
"Ambassador telegraphs ropcatedljr at my request the following :—I have positive assur-
JUd No cos anco* from tho Ottoman Porto that they intend
establishing supormacy over Bahrein. Muscat, and
tho independent tribes of Southern Arabia and that no special aitaok is contemplated against
them"
64. Colonel Herbert's tclogrnm of tho 26th, rognrding tho rumourod
intentions of the expedition, was reported
Hid No. C05.
on 28th, to the Secretary of State, who
was asked whother an assuranco could not be obtained from the Turkish Gov­
ernment that the expedition had no otlior object than tho vttloment of the
affairs of Nejd. The Secretary of State replied:—
" Her Majesty's Government have reoeived assurance from Constantinople that Turkish
Government bavo no such designs a9 those mentioned."
To clear up tho discrepancy between the information received from Her
Majesty’s Government, and that received from the Political Agont at Baghdad,
Her Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople was immediately communicated
with by telegraph both direct and through Colonol Horbert.
65. The result of this reference was that Sir H. Elliot telegraphed on tho
12th May:—
Ibid No. 698.
*' The Ottoman Port/ explicitly denies all intention of extending supremacy oner Bahrein,
Muscat, or the independent tribes of Southern Arabia, and contemplates -no attack against them.
The sole object of the expedition is declared to be the restoration in Nejd of the tranquillity
which is disturbed by the hostility of the brothers Sheikh Abdoollah .and Sheikh Saood. I
received assurances that no maritime operations are intended in the Gulf, the vessel employed
being only intended as transport to convey troops to a point from which (hey can reach
Jfcjd.”
06. A. detailed account, of the interview on the 25th April at which the
Grand Vizier commuDioated these assurances regarding, the iutentions of the
Porte was forwarded by India Office
Secret £.,1871. No*. 111-lZO.
despatch No 29, dated 12th May 1871.
It appears that the following memorandum by Sir H. Elliot was communicated
through Mr. Pisani to the Grand Vizier
V The accounts from Bagdad are to the effect that, for a considerable time past, Midhut
Pasha had been endeavouring to attract the attention of the Porte, to tho movement goiug on
in Nejd and the adjacent provinces His Exoellency wishes tombtain rfor the Ottoman Gov­
ernment a more real supremacy over Bahrein, Muscat, and the independent tribes of ;South
Arabia ; haB induced .him to persuade-the Porte to undertake a costly and impossible enterprise
indeed, under the o.-tensible pretextof .supporting Abdoollah, .whom ho ha9 represented as
Abduolinh, .fin.raecKdbt bb fatb.r.. .b.ol.t. °r functionary of the Ottoman Govern-
Ruler of Nejd, may bare been recognized by tlio ment, Ot ^ WniCtl C6 UBS hitherto .maintained bis
I'orto ai its Governor, but it U a delusion to speak of perfect independence. The anxiety of Midhut
hiniai Kaimnkan.” Pasha to obtain the command of Bahroin and
Katif, and to establish the supromaoy of the Porte over tho wholo of Central and Smthern
Arabia, has the appearance of no^being untinctured with a growing jealousy of British influence
in the .Persian Gulf. It .is too late to hope that what l caonot but look upon as an ill-advised
expedition will be stopped ; butas any disturbance of the existing relatious of the different
Governments on the borders of the Persian Gulf will certainly not he seen with indifference by
Her Majesty's Government* Mt. Pisani will tell tho Grand ‘Vizier that I should be glad to give
Lord Granville 6ucli explanations as shall re-nssure them with regard to the object of it.
When the report of an intended expedition in tho Persiau Gulf and Central Arabia reached mo
6ome months ago, I was authorized to assuro Her Majesty’s Government that it had no founda­
tion. It now appears that, although, at that time the Porte had no intention of sending one,
the Govornor-General of-Bagdad had resolved upon it, and the motivo was assigned to it, of the
necessity of supporting the authority of a purely nominal Kaimakan, who had uover before re­
cognized that of the Porte, must necessarily bo received with caution ".
67. Mr. Pisani replied:—
“ I havo communicated word for word to Ali Pasha Your Excellency's instruction of this
day’s dato rolativo to Nejd, &c. After I concluded, His Highness seemed excited and annoyed,
and told mo that all independent Stntosare perfeotly at liberty to deal with their internal affairs
*8 circumstances may require. .Nojd, ho went on .to say, being an integral part of the Sultan's
dominions, tho Porte cannot l*o debarred from the excroiso of its authority over it. He con-
teuded that Abdoollah k not an absolute ruler, as supposed, but a fuuctionary holding his ap-
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