"دليل الخليج. الجزء الأول. المواد التاريخية والسياسية. ملخص عن التوسع التركي على السواحل العربية للخليج العربي وشؤون الأحساء والقطيف" [‎٣‎٤] (١٦٠/٤٦)

34
On the 15th October Colonel Herbert
V" 3 telegraphed;—
" Pasha* privately asks my opiaioh. A messenger from Turkish General at Lahsa
♦ Proceedings (Secret), December 1871, fcdk lU- with letters from GWttttut visited Bahrein.
165. Sheikh heard of, seized, and killed him. British
officers "hearing this demanded letters and forwarded theM to GwUttur. Pasha cordially
ackuowledges obligation. He wishes to obtain fitting reparation from Sheikh, but considers
to apply officially to British Government would be yielding a point as to political position
of island. Under existing circumstances, and promises recently given, he cannot use force
against Sheikh as an Ottoman dependent, consequently contemplates sending a Commission
to demand reparation. 1 request orders.^
Colonel Herbert was informed on the 17th idem of Colonel Felly's version
t ind No. 157. of the story and directed, if possible,
ibid, jvo . i6i. ^ to avoid discussion with the Pasha until
further enquiry could be made; only if pressed, was he to tell the other
version. On the 24ith October Colonel Herbert informed Go^ernmentt
" Midhut Pasha expects to leave Thursday, and it is probable he will make the death of
the messenger a pretext for interference at Bahrein if he receive from me no satisfactory com
munication before he goes."
Colonel Pelly was directed to proceed to Bahrein or send his Assistant
there, and the following reply was sent to Colonel Herbert by telegraph of the
30th
" Viceroy cannot suppose that Pasha, knowing views of British Government regarding
Bahrein, and explicit denial of Ottoman Government of all intention to extend supremacy,
over Bahrein, and remembering assurances given by Pasha himself, can entertain any intention
of interfering with that island. Viceroy would consider such to be a violation of instructions
believed to have been given to Pasha from Constantinople, and of the promises given by his
Government, and would not look on interference with indifference.
" Use your discretion as to expressing above views to Pasha. Inform him of Pelly's ver
sion of storyZ''
The Pasha had, however, left Baghdad for Basrah en route to Nejd when
the telegram reached, and Colonel Herbert considered that it would be incon
venient to make the communication through a third party. He subsequently,
however, requested the Agent at Basrah to wait upon the Pasha on arrival
and communicate the substance of the above message.
134. The Bombay Government, on the 5th November, telegraphed :—
" Pelly telegraphs for instructions whether action is limited to watching events. In my
opinionj if, after all our representations at Constantinople and assurances at Bahrein, we eon-
tent ourselves with Watching events, our position in Gulf will be in future untenable. If
force sufficient, I would not hesitate to instruct Pelly to prevent any Turkish occupation, and
am confident that if this were known, not a blow would be struck. But some of the Turkish
corvettes are of modern construction and heavy armament, and I do not know what Lynx and
Magpie carry. In this case I should direct Pelly to visit Midhut Pasha on arrival, learn his
intentions, and, stating circumstances which excuse Bahrein Chief, offer good offices; if refused,
hand him formal protest with memorandum for transmission to London and in Constantinople
to the effect that Turkish Commander from commencement of operations employed and took
. into confidence Nassir-bin-Mobarek, who instigated and laid revolution in which Chiefs father
was assassinated. The present Chief having been placed on throne by our intervention, and
Nassir conopelled to fly, it was inconsistent with friendly relations with this country to employ
and protect a men who had fled from punishment at our hand; that Nassir having employed
the man who murdered Chief's father to carry letters to tribes with whom we have treated,
messenger had no claim to protection as an Envoy from private person, and has justly met
punishment of crime. If Bahrein Chief had acted hostilely or without considering Turkish
dignity, it resulted from employment of Mobarek; and if Turkish Commander proceeded to
act hostilely, Colonel Pelly was instructed to protest, and denounce his conduct as inconsistent
with friendly relations of two Governments. Exact protest may be safely left to Pelly, but
it should be formal, full, and precise. Instructions awaited. I think squadron should be rein
forced Bidlfinch here. Nimble Aden."
Colonel Pelly was directed to make precisely the same representations to
the Pasha as that contained in the telegram of the bOth October to Colonel
Herbert, and the Secretary of State was informed on the 8th by telegraph of the
whole proceedings up to date, and requested:—
" Pray move Ottoman Porte instantly to send by telegram most absolute orders to
Midhut Pasha and his officers to abstain from any active or armed interference in Bahrein,