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tion to be occupied henceforward hy tho Turkish Government in these regions, would not bo
prejudicial to Persian interests. As long as the limits of Turkish authority remain
undefined, plausible arguments may be advanced for strengthening the Turkish squadron on
duty in the Gulf. An increase in the number of Turkish vessels in these waters would add
appreciably to the Turkish power of aggression against Persia, at a point whore the Shah's
capabilities of resistance aro spccia’ly feeble. When once those limits have been settled, there
would be less excuse for an indefinite increase to the Turkish fleet in the Gulf, such as, for
instanco, was contemplated in 1871. In this view, therefore, the proposed settlement would be
of advantage to Persia.
19. Colonel Ross anticipates that the claims of the Turkish Government to the suzer-
ainty of the whole of Arabia will binder the proposed settlement of tho limits of Turkish
authority. In former days the Turks have asserted that Ncjd is a Turkish province, that the
Wabatce Amir is aTurkish official, and that Bahrein, Abuthabi, Debaye, and other towns on
tho coast are included in Ncjd territory. We do not think that theso pictcnsions would
necessarily be revived by a discussion of the question of littcral jurisdiction; but if, they
should be put forward, we presume that they would bo negatived by Her Majcsty'6
Government as firmly and conclusively as tho Turkish claim to Bahrein lias been already
negatived.
20. There remains the question of tho procedure to bo followed by the Resident at
Busbiro, and the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia in the transaction of business in which the
Turkish authorities aro concerned. Thore is no doubt that tho Itesident in the Persian Gulf
should keep the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia fully informed of proceedings which
involvo a reference to Turkish officials. In such matters, it is essential that there should exist
between the British Agents constant and confidential intercourse. The difficulty is to deter­
mine by rule at what point the conduct of correspondence should pass from the Resident in
the Persian Gulf to the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia. Generally speaking, all matters
relating to Turkish jurisdiction or responsibilities should be transferred to the Baghdad Agency
as soon as possible, though on emergency the Bushirc Resident would, in the first place, address
tho Turkish authorities direct. The same rule applies mulalis mutandis to correspondence
between the Political Agent at Baghdad and the Persian authorities in' Khuzistau. For the
rest, a great deal must he left to tho di>cretion and cxpeiience of tho officers concerned, and
to their joint action; and in this sense it might he advisahlo to issue some general instructions
to the two Agencies.
410. The question of the suppression of piracy in the Persian Gulf was
already under consideration when tho
No. 55, Political, dated 22n«t May 1870.
77. „ 23rd Juno „ despatch from which the oxtracts cited
are taken reached the India Offico. A copy of it and the other letters noted
in the margin were forwarded to tho Foreign Offico in Sir L. Mallet’s letter,
dated 1st August, with the following remarks :—
“Lord Cranhrook is disposed to concur generally in the viowsset forth in the Government
of Tndia letter No. 127 of the 22nd May last, moro particularly as regards the expediency of
defining the limits within which Turkish jurisdiction on the coast of the Persian Gulf will
be recognized.
So many important questions arc however involved that His Lordship prefers to delay
expressing any positive opinion, until ho has been able to consider more fully all the correspond­
ence connected with the subject."
411. The Foreign Office replied in Sir Julian Pauncefotc’s letter, dated
23rd August. This dealt first with the subject-matter of tho despatches from
the Government of India, No. 55, dated 22nd May, and No. 77, dated 23rd
June, cited above, and intimated the action which Lord Salisbury proposed to
tako in respect to them. It then explained the position of the Odcid affair,
and concluded with tho following expression of Lord Salisbury’s vicws.on the
question of Turkish jurisdiction ;—
“ Upon these proposals Lord Salisbury will ho glad to receive the further observations
from Lord Cranbrook promised in your letter. It appears to Lord Salisbury, however, at first
sight that the arrangement to which it is desired by tho Government of India that tho Turkish
Government should bo brought to consent, is one which would, no doubt, ho convenient in
viow of British interests, but which olfers few or no corresponding advantages to Turkey.
Tho Porto is apparently expected to ngreo to a definition of its authority along the coast, as
not in any way extending beyond the neighbourhood of Kl-Bidaa. It would ho called upon to
abandon the claim, which, though practically rojeeted by Ilor Majesty’s Government, it has
nover itself in terms renounced, to sovereignty ovor Bahrein, to acknowledge that island as
independent undor British protection ; and further, to concodo to tho Chief, in tho event of
attacks upon his territories, the ri"ht of taking such defensive measures as may bo necessary,
under the sanction of the British Itesident at Bushiro, even to tho extent of following up his