Page 303 - Gulf Precis(II)_Neat

Part VII—Chap. LXV. 281
total prohibition upon nil persons from serving tho British detachment in
Karrak, but likewise refused to allow the smallest articlo of supplies even those
required for tho officers* mess to bo sent from Bushiro. Captain Hcnnell
proposed tho expediency of resorting to retaliatory measure of stopping tho
trade of tho port of Bushiro (Resident’s letter dated 28th December 1838, to
Mr. McNeill).
5(17. Thin proposal was objected to by Viscount Palmerston for tho
following reasons:—
(i) it would injuro the interests of the Indian traders with Bushire as
well us the local merchants, who wero friendly to the British,
(ii) it might induce the Shah to stop the importation of British goods
to northern Persia,
(iii) it would not probably havo tho effect of altering the Persian
attitude.
Lord Palmerston suggested the alternative course of warning the Persian
authorities of tho necessity the British Government might bo driven to of
employing its own means to obtain tho supplies required and if the warning bo
not heeded to act upon it. There was no necessity felt to resort to this course,
6ince Colonel T»«ylor had made the necessary arrangements to send the supplies
from Bussorah (Secret Committee’s Despatch to tho Government of India,
dated 29th April 1839).

(ill) OUTRAGE OX REAR-ADMIRAL MAITLAND AND IIIS STAFF. REMOVAL OFTIIE
RESIDENCY TO KARRACK, MARCH 1839.
648. To crown the recent insults to which the British wore subjected at
Bushire, there was committed an outrage
Resident'* letter, dated 31st March 1839,
Volume 70-1066 of 1839, p, 20. against tho Naval Commauder-in-Chief
and his staff which in its insolence had
been rarely surpassed in the history of tho British connection with Persia.
519. On the evening of Friday the 22nd March a boat brought Captain
Hennell a letter from Commander Dawkins of the Clive informing him of the
arrival of the Naval Cominander-in-Chief, Rear-Admiral Sir F. L. Maitland
at Bushire. On the morning of the 23rd Captain Hennell sailed in the
Elpldnstone to wait on HiB Excellency and receive his orders. On his doing
so, His Excellency was pleased to signify his intention of not interfering with
the Squadron, unless some exigence of the public service should render it
necessary.
550. Sir F. Maitland going to return the visit of the Governor on Sunday
morning the 23rd, the Resident and the Commanders of the Squadron accom­
panied him; the interview went on well until the Admiral spoke on the subject
of supplies for himself and ship having been stopped that day, and intimating
that if it occurred through any mistake or error on his (the Admiral’s) part in
not attending to the regulations of the port, he was sorry and would prevent it
in future, but if otherwise, it was contrary to the usages of all civilized and
friendly natious. On this the Governor began stating it was customary to
send a list. The Resident, who had served on and off in the Gulf for thirty
years, declared most positively that so far as the ships of war either of the Crown
or East India Company were concerned, this was not true and that the first
instance of even an attempt at 6uoh a thing being made was on his own
baggage a fortnight previously, whioh when resisted, the point was immediately
given up. The Governor next stated it wa9 irregular and contrary to the rules
of the place that boats should land at the Residenoy and that all and every
thing must go off from the landing place at the town. Sir F. Maitland appealed
to the Resident to know if such was the case, when he distinctly said, it was not
or never had been, moreover that at all times when the weather permitted, our
boats constantly landed there, whether they went on duty or pleasure to the
Residenoy, and that things belonging to the resident officers of the Indian
Navy or other persons at tho Residenoy were landed or shipped off, from the
same place whenever tho parties thought it most convenient. Sir Frederick thc3
Stated his determination, as it was the custom, to go off from where he landed,