Page 224 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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Von Kaufmann's reply to the letter addroPB°d to liim on this Bubioot in September last.
We would at the same time suggest that a suitable opportunity should ho taken by Her
Majost/s Government to inform tho public of the nsiurances given by the Emperor of
Russia and his Ministers that they have uo iutention to extend tho frontier of Russia to tho
south.
" With regard to tho second point, we are of opinion that a strong representation should
be made to ttoe Porto as to the oomploto inaccuracy of tho statements mado by Aali Pasha.
This Government is the only branch of Biilith Administration whicn has direct relations or
communication with tho inhabitants of the Southern Coast of tho Persian Gulf, and we aro
unxious explicitly to state thnt no attempt whatever has been made by us to avail ourselves
of any supposed weakness of the Porte, or to endeavour to countenance the Arabs in any
course of action hostile to Turkey. No proceedings on our part can be interpreted so as to
show the smallest desire to interfere in the internal affairs of those countries, and it seems to
us that tho expressions made use of by tbe Turkish Minister indicate that ho has beeu com­
pletely misinformed as to the actions and polioy of the Government of India.”

Porte informed Indian Government disclaim countenancing Arabs-
98. On receipt of the above quoted despatch from tho Government of India,
the Ambassador at Constantinople was desired by tho Secretary of State to do
his best to remove any impression that might prevail at tho Porto of there
being a disposition on the part of the Indian Government to encourage the
disalTeolion of the Arabs in the Persian Gulf. Sir H. Elliot replied :
“ Aali Pasha's expressions, reported by Mr. Pisani, and commented upon by the Governor
General in his despatch t«' the Duk« of Argyll, exhibited au irritation originating in a suspi­
cion that Her Majesty's Government were disposed-to question the right of the Porto to act
as it thought proper in tho quarrel between Abdoollah and S;iood for tho administration of
Nejd, which he regarded as an integral part of the Ottoman Empire.
In the subsequent conversations which I had with His Highness I had made him
understand that, although we might have our own opinion of the wisdom and polioy of the
course that was being followed with regard to the two brothers, ho need not fear any diffi­
culties on the side of Her Majesty's Government so long as tho action of the Ottoman autho­
rities was exerted strict 1 y within the Sultan's dominions, but that Her Majesty's Government
would not see with indifference any attempt to disturb tho arrangements existing with regard
to the Arab tribes in the Persian Gulf.
*r The assoranc s received from the Grand Vizier upon that point were satiVaotory, and
I believe I had entirely ram-ived from his mind all suspicion, if it ever existed, of there being
a wish on the part of the Government of India to provoke discontent against tbe Government
of the Suhau.
“ Server Efferdi, to whom If communicated yesterday the substance of Yout Lordship'*
despatch, showed himself perfectly satisfied ; but I took the opportunity of again warning
him that the further avoidance of misunderstanding would depend greatly on the care shown
by the leaders of the Expedition iu not overstepping the legitimate limits of the Sultan's
recognized dominion?"
Turkish designs on Katar- Hoisting of Turkish flag at Bidaa.
99. Colonel Pelly on the 18th July telegraphed a report that while the
Katar Chief excused himself, . bis son
S«er*t, Align it 1871, Non. 147—301. (No. 176.)
Jasim bad promised aid and hoisted the
Turkish flag on his own house. Major Smith was about to go to Katar to as­
certain facts.
On the same day Colonel Pelly telegraphed again ‘that Captain Lodder
Na ... had visited Bidaa on the east coaBt of the
Katar peninsula and found tbe Tur­
kish flag flying. A Turkish steamer had come in with a boat of the Koweit
Chief’s which it had sent to the Bidaa Chief with a command to hoist the flap-
On receipt of Captain Lodder’s report Colonel PelJy apparently telegraphed
to Colonel Herbert asking whether the Pasha knew of or had authorized this
proceeding for he (Colonel Pelly) on tbe
HU. No 179.
following day reported a statement o£
Colonel Herbert's, who said—
w Pasha states that being without nows, he cannot say if flags bavo been ^sent to
Gwuttur. Finnans, leing orders emanating from Sultan, have not been sent thither.