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372. Colonel Ross telegraphed to Mr. Robertson at Basrah, who thorcupon
wrote strongly to Colonel Miles at Baghdad, and also to the Governor of Basrah,
urging the necessity of prompt action. Ho also spoke to Commodore Ahmed
Bog (of the Arkadi ?), who expressed his readiness to act at once, but Abdullah
Pasha threw cold water on his zeal and forbade hasty action. In Mr. Robertson’s
opinion Abdullah Pasha had neither the intention or capacity to atop these and
similar outrages, which, ho looked on “ns the results of English artifice and
intrigue,’* and it was well known that lie hated the English.
373. In two later telegrams, dated the 18th and 22nd July, respectively,
Colonel Milos reported that—
“ho had received a telegram from the Governor of Basrah saying that he (the Goyernor)
had sont stringent orders to the authorities at Ncjd and the Naval Officer for the capture of
the offenders.”
374. In the second telegram Colonel Milos stated that ho had received a
despatch from the Ambassador at the Porto informing him that the Minister of
Marine had telegraphed to enquire what measures wore taken by the authorities
at Basrah relative to piracies, and to ascertain whether tho state of afFairs was
owing to negligence or to want of means of suppression. Also that two corvettes
were being despatched to tho Gulf.
375. Colonel Ross intondod to request tho Senior Naval Officer, who was
at Bahrein, to investigate tho guilt of the people of IChor Shujeej, on whom he
thought Government should iuduce the Turks toinfliot punishmout should their
guilt be established.
376. In reporting the matter to Secretary of State, tho Government of India
observed in their despatch No. 102 of tho
Political A., Septembor 1879, No. 620.
1st September 1879—
a While it is very desirablo on general ground? that an understanding should be speedily
arrived at on tho question dealt with in our despatch No. 127, dated 22nd May, it is necosa&ry
that in tho meantime, pressure should bo brought to bear on the local Turkish authorities
whereby they may be induced either to adopt adoquate measures of their own For the capture
and punishment of Zaid-biu-Mahomcd, or to acquiesce in the needful notion being taken by the
Resident in Persian Gulf. Your Lordship will porccivo from the inclosurcs of this despntoh
that as long as Abdulla Pasha, whose shortcomings have been already brought to uotice, remains
at Basrah, tho requisite measures are likely to be indefinitely postponed.”
377. The Resident’s action inrespoetto Zaid-bin-Mahomcd and the Beni
Hnjir was approved, but the Government of India disapproved of Colonel Ross’
proposal that tho Turkish Government should bo called upon to inflict puuish-
ment on the Khor Shujeej, inasmuch as they wore unahlo to admit that Khor
Shujeej and lias Lafan were situated within acknowledge d Turkish juris­
diction.
378. In October 1879 tho Government of India reported to Her Majesty’s
Bemnral of Abdullah Paiba, who ii aucccedcd by Secretary of State that Abdullah Pasha had
Zabit Paiba. completely failed to give any satisfaction
Political A., November 1870, No. 138.
for the piracies committed upon British
vessels within Turkish waters, or any information with regard to the enquiries
alleged to have been instituted by the Turkish authorities, and they noted with
satisfaction that ho had been removed from his post, and succeeded by Zabit
Pasha as Governor-General of Basrah.
379. Meanwhile the piracies under Zaid-bin-Mahomed in July 1879, had
Rcmonitrauco addrcaicd to t ha Porto. bcCD made tllO Subject of a Strong reiDOns-
Political A., Novombcr 1879, Nit. 184-188. trance to tllO Porto, ill which Her
Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople observed that Her Majesty’s Govern­
ment could not permit the continuance of state of thiugs so detrimental to the
interests and commerce of Great Britain.
380. From subsequent correspondence with Colonel Ross it appeared that
t toll,. 8b.iHiof KbcSHMj. tho guilt or the A1 Mohamleli of Khor
Pound a., NoTombor 1879, No*. 280—2ui. Shujeej in those piracies was not suffi­
ciently proved to warrant punitive measures. Tho Government of India, thore-