Page 239 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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hia boats. Thcpc boals nro now in poascssion of tho pcoplo of Bahrein, and petitioner begs
tho restoration of theso boats to him.
“ I beg. to inform you that theso acts of plunder ore contrary to law and to the customs
of tho high Government. You know that tho wish of tho Government is to protect its sub­
jects and to presorvo them from intriguo and oppvcsion, ipocially as Saood has seized all boats
by force, and whatever ho has thus taken forcibly is in possession of tho people of Bahrein who
have become protectors of what this oppressor has plundered. Undor theso circumstances,
such proceedings nro contrary to tho rules of oivilzatiou and opposed to tho customs of tho
Exalted Government.
“ I find it necessary to request you to ascertain who possesses tho boats of the petitioner,
and restore them to their original owner. This mattor being one of justice, you should help
in arranging it satisfactorily as early as possible.”
151. The Bahreiu Chief replied :—
u 1 havo had great pleasure in receiving your welcome letter dated ?n,h and I
have understood ite purport and your wishes specially in rogard to enquiries being made res­
pecting tho two boats which orginally belonged to Mahomed bin Ilossein of Gwuttur, and
which were forcibly taken possession of by Saood bin Foysul and given to the people of Bahrein
while Saood was iu authority.
“ I have made enquiries, and find that Saood bin Fcysuljwhen in authority was indebted
to two persons of Bahrein, and in payment gave them theso two boats.
This is the true 6tate of the caso, which I trust you will accept, as I am suro of its
correctness.”
152. Tho Chief received* a reply to his letter from the Turkish Bey at
• ride encloaiirM of Bombay Govcrumcat No. ICfltif, WllO, after acknowledging tll6
loio, dan-d 19th Fobruoxy i87o. Chief’s letter, wrote—
“This reply is not accepted, as it cannot bo admitted by law or custom. In reality
I did not expect to receive from a person liko the Chief of Bahrein,who, notwithstanding his
need of boing placed under tho flag of Turkey, such an absurd and uncomformable reply.
The Effendi (i.e., Midhut Pasha) before leaving instructed me how I should act. My
request is that you will inform me of your final intention as to whethor you will give what is
required of you in full, or thut you will not conform with • His Excellency's wishes '
153. Meantime certain reports reached Colonel Polly, which strengthened
his suspicions of the craft having been irregularly obtained by Baood. At
Colonel Polly’s recommendation, therefore, tho Chief sent tho following reply
to the Pasha under flying seal through the Katif Bey :—
“ I bog to enclose, for Your Excellency's information, a copy of a letter I have received
from Ali Bog, Kaimukam of Katif, purporting to be a roply to my letter to the address of
Your Excellency, dated 8th Shawal 1288.
" I regret to observe the menacing tone of the Kaimukam's letter.
•* As, regards tho two craft in question, and which were brought to Bahrein before the
arrival of tho Turkish authorities at Katif, I have already communioated to Your Excellency
what I believed to have been the facts of the case.
” As, however, I am most desirous that no possible suspicions should rest on me of in any
manner conniving at or sanctioning any irregularity at Bea, and as it has been asserted that
His Highness Saood bin FoyEul obtained tho two craft in a mauner which has been called in
question, 1 am requesting the persons to whom Saud bin Feysul presonted the craft to place
them at my disposal in order that I may make them over in the presence of the British officers
at Bharein to whomsoever Your Excellency may depute to receive them.
On the 9th February Colonel Pelly signalled : Assistant Resident reports
Bahrein Chief accepted my couusel and rejoined to Pasha accordingly. All
quiet."

Reasons for non-interference of British Government in operations
by land.

154. Prom the commencement of tlio Turkish expedition both Colonel
Herbert and Colonel Polly had repeatedly
Secret, May 1872, No*. 62*88.
expressed an opinion that tho ultimate
objeot of tho expedition was tho acquisition of Bahrein, Maskat, and the
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