"الخليج العربي - الولاية القضائية التركية على طول الساحل العربي (الجزء الرابع)" [‎١‎٤] (١٦/١٤)

14
Her Majesty’s Charge d’Affaires at Constantinople
was instructed accordingly.*
But the Turkish Government persisting in its
complaint, a formal reply on the part of Lord.
Granville to the communications received from
Musurus Pasha became requisite, and was finally
(7tli May 1883) made in the following terms :—+
“I have the honour to explain to your Excellency that these
proceedings were rendered necessary by the Sheikh’s complete
disregard of the representations made to him by the British autho
rities in consequence of his treatment of certain British Indian
traders residing at El Bidaa, whom he eventually ejected in a
sudden and violent manner, thereby subjecting them to very serious
losses in their trade.
“ The Sheikh had been warned that he would be held directly
responsible for any act inconsistent with the friendly ielutions
which had hitherto existed between him and the British autho
rities, and Her Majesty’s Government accordingly authorized a
demonstration of force in the event of his refusing to pay the
moderate esmpeusation which was claimed from him for the
injuries inflicted on British subjects, whose right to reside at
El Bidaa it was impossible for Her Majesty’s Government to
abandon. .
“ It is to be regretted that this attitude of defiance assumed by
the Sheikh should have compelled Her Majesty’s Government to
adopt measures which they would willingly have avoided, and
which were only resorted to when their agents had exhausted
every effort to obtain redress by other means. ^
« i n conclusion, I beg leave to remind your Excellency that
the claim of the Porte to rights of sovereignty over the Katr
coast has never been admitted by Her Majesty's Government.
On the 2nd August, Musurus Pasha, under in
structions from the Porte, replied to this note in
terms which reasserted the Sultan’s sovereignty
over the coast in question in the most uncom
promising manner.t His Excellency wrote :
“ En ce qui concerne le dernier paragraphe de la lettre precitee
de Votre Excellence, la Sublime Porte m’a autorise a declarer en
reponse d’une maniere explicite et categorique, que la Souyerainete
du Sa Majeste Imperial le Sultan est parfaitement 6tablie sur les
contrees de Nejd dont depend le Caimakamat de Katr.
“ En effet, le vilayet de la province de Nejd et de son littoral a
fait de tout temps, et "fait actuellement, partie integrante et reelle de
1’Empire Ottoman ; il est occupe par une partie de I’armee Im-
periale, et il y existe une Administration legaleraent constituee
sous laquelle les populations indigenes vivent heureuses, contentes,
et en pleine paix. Le Gouvernement Imperial ne doute point que
le Gouvernement de Sa Majeste la Reine ne veuille bien faire a
cette declaration un accueil conforme aux principes du droit des
gens et aux rapports d’amitie existant entre les deux Empires.”
• Lord Granville to Mr. Wyndham, No. 107,
dated 31st March 1883.
Home; No. 233.
f From Foreign Office, 16th April 1883.
Home; No. 252.
$ From Foreign Office, 16th Angust
1883.
Home; No. 543.
In reply to this formal declaration, Lord Granville,
in accordance with a suggestion from this Office, §
wrote to Musurus Pasha that Her Majesty’s Govern
ment were unable to accept the views of the Porte
on the subject, as set forth in his note, and were
not prepared to waive the right, which they had
exercised at intervals during a long period of years,
of dealing directly with the Arab Chiefs of the
Katr coast, when necessary, in order to preserve
the peace of the seas, or to obtain redress for
outrages on British subjects or persons entitled to
British protection. ||
As to El Bidaa the latest information is contained
in the marginally noted letters from the Govern
ment of India,from which it appears that last
summer certain British Indian traders went there
§ To Foreign Office, 31st August 1888.
Home ; No. 543.
|| Lord Granville to Musurus Pasha, 22nd
September 1883.
Home; No. 647.
% Secret, Nos. 133 and 141, dated 17th
August and 7th September 1883.