'Persian Gulf - Turkish jurisdiction along the Arabian coast (Part I)' [‎134r] (8/30)

* Home Correspondence,
Vol. 67, p. 49.
\ 20th Jan. 1871, Vol.
67, p. 95.
J Secret Letter, No. 8,
dated 1st March 1871.
§ Secret Letter, No. 26,
dated 23rd May 1871.
remration necesiavysteps for obtaining
lepaiation for the injury inflicted, provided that its
ccurrence can be satisfactorily proved.
We further agree that the maintenaace of the
peace now concluded amongst us shall be watched
over by the British Government, who will take
steps to ensure at all times the due observance of
the above Articles, and God of this is the best
witness and guarantee."
In 1868 an agreement was signed between Colonel
i elly and Mahomed bin Thanee, the principal Chief
of Guttur, by which the latter, although not a party
to tbe maritime truce, bound himself not " at any
" time to put to sea with hostile intention," and to
refer to the British Hesident any dispute or mis
understanding which might arise.
To the treaties with Muscat no special reference
is necessary, as that territory lies entirely outside
any limits over which the Porte has even the shadow
of a claim to jurisdiction, and they have no bearing
on the general question.
We come now to the correspondence which com
menced in 1871 on the subject of the Turkish pro
ceedings in Nejd, the seat of the Wahabee power in
Central Arabia, which on the east is limitrophe
with the district of El Hassa extending to the shore
of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
On the 30th December 1870,* Her Majesty's
Consul General in Egypt reported to the Eoreign
Office that the Khedive had mentioned to him
confidentially that, from information he had re
ceived from Constantinople, he was persuaded the
Ottoman Government was secretly preparing a force
at Bagdad, with a view to an occupation of some
positions on the Arabian coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
preparatory to a more direct interference in the
affairs of Arabia.
On receipt of this information, the Duke of
Argyll suggested to the Eoreign Officef that Her
Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople should be
instructed to inquire of the Porte as to the circum
stances alleged, and, if true, to seek an explanation
of tbe causes of a movement " which must be very
" embarrassing to Her Majesty's Government.
About the same time a similar rumour reached
the Government of India,t but (18th November
1871) was pronounced by Colonel Herbert, the
Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Baghdad, to be without apparent
foundation, there being no troops availably taere.
An assurance to the same effect was also given by
the Turkish Government to Sir H. Elliot.
Nevertheless,§ on the 27th March, Colonel Hei-
bert telegraphed to the Indian Government that,
under orders from Constantinople, an expedition by
land and sea was about to be sent towards Nejd to
pport the Wahabee Sheikh Abdullah against his
t t rni O i V vvt o/-vo o 1V p0<T
brother Saood. The force sent by sea-six
ments and 12 gans—was to disembark at Xateef or
Demam.