Page 238 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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148. On leaving Bahrein for Bushire, Colonel Polly gave the following
instructions, dated 16th December,* to
10lfUor’No> Captain Grant, Assistant Resident, who
378, il.tcd so.h j.nu.rj ms. wit loft behind at Bahrein, in case the
question of tho murder of the messouger should ho rovived. After informing
him of tho instructions of tho Government of India, ho added—
“I now ontertain every hope that the Turkish authorities will not interfere with Bahrein
" Should interference, however, have placo [and as providing for this remote possibility],
you will in such event remind the Senior Turkish Officer present, verbally iu tho first instance,
and, if necessary, by letter, of the assurance given by tho Forte to our Government.
" If tho interference should still continue, address to the Senior Turkish Officer the
laoguago of His Excellency tho Vicoroy contained iu the telegram of the Political Secretary,
dated 0th November last.
. “ Should tho intorforenoc relate to the death of tho messenger in particular, say you
are instructed to intiraat« that this is a matter for diplomacy and, if necessary, for arbitration,
and cannot in any way affect the political status of Bahrein.
"Your letter should go by direction, beginning thus : Tho British Political Resident in
the Persian Gulf, acting in obedience to commands received from ilis Excellency tho Viceroy
and Governor-General of India instructs me to &c., &c., &o.
“In the event of interference communicate with me by steamer if there be more than one
steamer at Bahrein, otherwise by special boat. * x *
“ It is possible that llis Excellency Midhut Pasha may write to tho Chief of Behrien
concerning the mnssengor and other matters, in such event, please verbally suggest to the
Chief the advisability of sending a oopy of the Pasha's letter to me, and of his postponing
reply until he hears from me."
149. Colonel Polly in a loiter dated 27th January, to the Bombay Govern­
ment,f forwarded a draft of the reply
t Enciomre to Domiay Government No. iooo, which he had recommended the Chief of
d»"d iinh F.brosty is,, Bahrein to address to the Pasha, and
which tho Chief approved and despatched immediately. The draft after ac­
knowledging receipt of the Pasha’s letter concluded—
" I have submitted a copy of your letter to the British Government, with the request
that, in communication with the Government of His Imperial Majesty tho Sultan at Con­
stantinople, an amicable settlement will be arrived at, and that I will bind myself to accept
such settlement of the claims pending between Nejd and Bahrein.11
I49-A. The Porte did not wish to refer the matter to British arbitral ion, hut
wished that Midhul Pasha should settle
Secret, May 1872, Noi. 61-81.
the dispute directly with the Chief by
means of Agents. The Government of India thereupon decided that no opposi­
tion should be ottered to a direct settlement of tho question between the Agents
of Turkey and Bahrein, as long as no force or violence or constraint, as by presence
of a Turkish vessel at Bahrein, was used. Instructions were also issued to
secure the prcsenco of a British vessel of war at Bahrein during the progress
of negotiations. Ultimately tho whole
Secret, Jane 1872, No». 170-173.
matter was apparently dropped by Turkey.
Demand on Bahrein Chief for surrender of two boats.
150. While correspondence regarding the murder of the Turkish messenger
was still being carried on, the Turks found a new pretext for fixing a quarrel
on the Chief of Bahrein regarding two boats which the Pasha pretended
to have been irregularly obtained by the Bahrein Chief from Katif:—
“Tlieso craft/' wrotet Colonel Polly, "were, I believe, brought over to Bahrein by Snood
tVHt Bombay Gownmeut No.637, doted Slit bin Feysul beforo the commencement of tho lurk-
Jonuory 1872. ish Expedition, ond were p.f sonted^by Saood to a
certain person or persons iu Bahrein."
Colonel Pelly forwarded translated purport of tho letter from Midhut
r»v/ ifawbay Government No. 637, doted 3i*t Pasha, demanding surrender of these
jouuory 1672. boats. It was as follows
"1 have juat received 0 petition from Mahomed bin IJossoin of Gwul tur to effect that
i Saood bin Fcysul, when fighting (for eupremaoy) with his brother Abdoollah, seized forci y
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