Page 237 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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omuse 1)0 applicable to him ? Coitainly it would bo 60. The abovo sufficiently answers the
first and second excuses put forward in your letter.
“The arguments adduced by mo in this mnttcr would be recognized in every place, and
aro in aeoordanco with all custom and rule, and in overy Court in the world.
“But as regards the third subject mooted in your letter, to the effect that the murdered
messenger was the bearer of a letter from the Firman hirma for Jassim-bin-Sani. and that
you sent tho letter intact with the seal unbroken to its destination, you say also that in opening
a second lettor you found that certain persons had written it to another person in Gwuttur,
mentioning certain matters connected with Bahrein, which you observed with rcgTdt. This
letter, although written by certain parsons to an individual in Gwuttur, did not contain matters
of tho nature represented by you. But if it had contained any such, may God help us, it would
have created mischief to tho State.
“This question had no concern with tho messenger, nor yet with the person to whom the
messenger was seut, but had refcreuce only to the persons who indited the letter. Not
withstanding this were tho subject-matter contained in the lotter as6ccn by you and quoted by
you to this effect, uia.—
“That tho enemy would bo suppressed, and that friends would rejoice," it contained
nothing injurious, but only what was beneficial to all mankind.
“If any fault can be found, it is in the fact of your having opened a letter of this descrip­
tion from one party to another, at a time when you were a person in authority. Your presump­
tion in acting in this mauner would bo objected to by every Government and stigmatized by
every creed.
“ As regards your statement that the messenger who bore these letters was not known and
carried no passport, the idea of such a question as that of messengers proceeding from Lahsa to
Gwuttur being known or unknown, competent or otherwise, for the first time emanates from
Bahrein. It is well known that persons employed on the coast and passing to and fro do not
oarry passports, and that the custom of carrying passports has never been in vogue iu these
parts.
“What you have now put forward in argmnont is sometimes considered fitting to
adduce as an excuse, uuder such circumstances, in great cities which you have not seen, but
may havo heard of.
“ The excuse, however, had no effect, because it is not the practice to carry passports in
these parts. It would appear you have written from hearsay wit hout considering at all whether
the excuse would bo of any service to you or have any weight whatever,
“ Notwithstanding this it was known from tho address of the official lettor which the
messenger was carrying, and from the seal on the document whence the messenger had come,
and whither he was proceeding, and on what business he was deputed. Theso circumstances
naturally showed what tho man’s business was. Your statements aro consequently foolish, aud
call for no remark.
“What causes me more surprise than all else in your statement, that you were not aware
of the arrival of tho Imperial troops at Lahsa and Katif, while arrival of these troops took
place more than six months ago aud the people of Bahrein, consequent on the protection and
security cau>cd by the prcsence.of the troops, frequented the coasts without interference and
carried on trade. The steamers and other vossels also passed to and fro in tho vicinity of
Bahrein. I am unable to understand how theso patent circumstances havo escaped your ob­
servation, while I have heard so much of your goo^d Bunco aud iutclligcnco.
“ In conclusion, the man despatched for tho delivery of important loiters from one Turkish
Government authority to another is woll known to us of having left; also how ho was made
to deviato from his course, tho way in which ho was taken to the island of Buhroin, and by whose
hands he was killed. Same portions of tho actual facts romained incomplete, but theso were
ascertained during tho missiou of Arif Boy, and the evidence is now complete.
“ On this account it is necessary that tho murderers should bo called on to pay tho blood-
money of tho murdered in accordance with the custom of law, viz., 10,000 legal dirhems of pure
silver, which amount should be made over tu the Kayem Mukaua in Gwuttur, Jassicu-biu-Sani
for payment to the heirs of tho murdered.
“ In any case it is required that tho murderer should bo scizod and confined. If it'were
possible for me (to get this dono), it would havo boon done, in order that in future such oc­
currences as these may not bo repealed.
“ My object is to be informed who tho murderers are, and in what manner they have been
confined.
If theso things which I havo said nro not carried into effect, and as you 'havo written that
tho murder was committed by the people of th« south, I, by tho power of Iiis Imperial Majesty,
am able really and actually to givo effect to whnt I havo said.
“ I now await a decisive reply from you."