Page 276 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

254. Part VII—Chap. LIU.
6. Ilnd this conduct bcon persevered in the Governor in Council would not have boon
disposed to have mndo any exception even of Sheikh Hussein in his acceptance of tho
submission of tho Sheikhs, but tho renewal of theoutragos mentioned in tho beginning'of Colonel
Stannus’a despatch (No. 8), tho attompts at recrimination described in tho samo despatch,
togethor with tho ill-judged measures of tho Princo of Shirauz, considerably altorcd tho footing
on which tho transaction stood.
7. In theso circumstances tho step adopted by Colonel Stannus of withdrawing from tho
Rosidoncy was justified on tho scoro of roseutmont for tho slight that had been offered to him
and was rendered indispensablo evon in prudence by tho uncertainty of tho continuance of
tranquillity ns long as Sheikh Hussoin was in power and tho wholo town of Bushiro in such
a 6tato of confusiou.
8. Colonel Stannus’s proceeding therefore in removing tho Residency is approved and
his wholo conduct from the beginning of tho disturbances till his departure is considered to bo
marked with tho samo decision, tempor and firmness that baa all along characterised him.
9. I am now directed to communicate to you tho Governor in Council's full approbation
of your return to tho Hosidenoy at tho timo when you took that stop and his sense of tho judg­
ment evinced by you in coming to that resolution. The language of tho Prince's letter was
no doubt extremely offensive and such as might at another timo liavo afforded strong ground
for remonstrance, but the substantial concessions by which it was accompanied wore a sufficient
compensation as far as tho point of honour was concerned, while tho restoration of tranquillity
in Bushiro nnd tho exclusion of Shiekh Hussein from all share in the Government afforded
ample security against tho apprehension that the presenco of tho Residency might givo
occasion to fresh grounds of dispute: a refusal to roturu on tho ground of tho Prince's
languago alone would entiroly have altered iho grounds of the discussion and could scarcely
have failed to produce embarrassment. Your acceptanoo of the terms offered was therefore
highly judicious, and your disregard of tho irritating languago in which they wero convoyed
was the most temperate and dignified course that could have been pursued.
10. Tho subsequent alteration in the Prince's language and tho hope of future amendment
in consequence of the ascendancy of the J1 Khani induced tho Governor in Council to abstain
from any expression of resentment at the ill-judged and intemperate languago of the Prince of
Fare and to confine himself to removing the false impression to which tno tone of the Govern­
ment of Shirauz is calculated to give encouragement.
11. Tho only point that remains for decision is how far tho permanent exclusion of Sheikh
Hussein from tho administration ought to be insisted on. If the employment of this person
were a matter of indifference to the Persian Government, no consideration for him personally
would lead to any relaxation of our demand, but as from bis superior aotivity ho appears to be
the chief support of his party, it seems doubtful whether his exclusion may not operate to the
serious injury of Sheikh Abdul Rassul and to the embarrassment of tho Princo Regent:
should this be ihe case we must expect a continual struggle for his restoration aud a state of
feeling on tho part of tho local authorities more unfavorable than would result from our own
acquiescence in the employment of Sheikh Hussein.
12. "While therefore the Governor in Council is prepared to insist on tho continued
exclusion of Sheikh Hussein if it be considered that his return to power would occasion tho
risk of a renewal of the former outrages, he leaves it to your discretion to admit of his employ­
ment if it should appear to you that it may be acquiesced in with safety in the actual stato of
affairs.
IS. The remarks of Colonel Stannus on the situation of tho Residency appear to be
entitled to ureat weight, but independent of other considerations, tho impression which would
be orcated by a removal at the present moment seems far from desirable. The Governor in
Council will therefore await your opinion as to the probability of the consent of tho local
authorities to the construction of a Residency in a more favorable situation and of the expense at
which a suitable building might be erected. In the meantime a cruiser detained at Bushiro
will afford the means of security as long as affairs remain in an unsettled state and the Governor
in Council is disposed to think that an occasional resort to the same expedient will be found
sufficient for the future also.
14. Before closing this despatoh the Governor in Council directs mo to call your particular
attention to the inconvenience which has resulted from the practice hitherto prevalent of
allowing fugitives to seek an asylum at the Residency. The Governor in Council is awaro of
the prejudices of the Persians and Arabs on this subject aud of the difficulty of reconciling
them to the propriety of refusing admission to a suppliant; but he considers it extremely
desirable that this practice should be limited as muoh as possible, and that the degree to whioh
it is limited should be publicly known. It ought to exclude all fugitives, whose presenco can
have a political influence on the Government, or is likely to involve the British Government in
the internal affairs of Persia. It is not possible to take a better model in this cose than .that
of the Embassy at-the Court of Persia. The Governor in Counoil therefore requests that you
will communicate with Colonel Macdonald and be guided by his advice iu narrowing as muoh
as possible the description of persons who may be permitted in certain cases to benefit by
your temporary protection.
15. Tho Governor in Council directs me to express his satisfaction with the favourable
reports he has received of the conduct of Lieutenant Hennell.
M. E.
23ik April 1837.

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