"الخليج العربي - الولاية القضائية التركية على طول الساحل العربي (الجزء الثاني)" [ظ‎‎١‎٦‎٦] (٤٥/٤٠)

t
66
Foreign SecrGtary addressed Colonel Ross as follows
(I7tli December 1878) :—*
" Witli regard to the proposal that the Political
Agent at Baghdad, and not the Resident in the
Persian Gulf, should be the medium of communi
cation with the Turkish Government in respect to
disputes on the Turkish portion of the .Arabian
coast, I am to inquire what procedure is now
observed. It is understood that the Resident at
Bushire does refer such disputes to the Political
Agent at Baghdad for disposal, having first taken
any action which the circumstances may imme
diately require. If this be the system, the Govern
ment of India would be glad to know how it has
worked in practice, and whether any rule prescribing
its adoption has ever been laid down."
The Resident replied (20th January 1879) :—f
" I have the honour to state that the system of
procedure has been as understood by the Govern
ment of India. All ordinary disputes, complaints,
or irregularities coming to notice on the Arabian
coast, at places where Turkish jurisdiction is
regularly established, have invariably been referred
to the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia. Matters,
however, which involved questions of international
policy, or seemed to have special political signifi
cance, have been reported to the Government of
India only, for such action, through such channel
as Government should deem best. In cases affecting
the petty Chiefdoms (not trucial) whose connection
with the Turkish Government has not been affirmed,
or is vague and undefined, and where the local
Arab Sheikhs still administer, and with whom,
previous to the advent of the Turks, direct relations
had existed, the practice has been to refer to the
local Chiefs, in the first instance, and afford them
the opportunity of themselves effecting a settle
ment. Pailing that, appeal has been made, through
the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, to the
Turkish provincial authorities.
" As to the working of this mode of procedure, I
cannot say that we have had the same success as
when we were in a position to enforce our demands.
But the local petty Chiefs, though to some extent
availing themselves of the Turkish connection to
screen themselves from the consequences of irregu
larities committed by their own people, have still
been reluctant to sever the long existing friendly
relations with the British representatives. Direct
representations have sometimes availed to obtain
redress, but I can find no instance recorded in
which appeal to the Turkish authorities through
the Political officers in Turkish Arabia has elicited
any satisfactory result."
The Government of India thus express their own
views:—
" There is no doubt that the Resident in the
Persian Gulf should keep the Political Agent in
Turkish Arabia fully informed of proceedings which
involve a reference to Turkish officials. In such
• Enclosure 12 in India
No. 127 of 1879.
f Enclosure No. 15, as
above.
V