'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Nejd [Najd] Affairs, 1804-1904' [‎31] (44/72)

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" In reply, I am desiivd to intimate that the oonoiliatory ppirit shown by the Wahahi
En^oy is satisfactory. Tlie Governor General in Council hopes that it will enable Lieutenant-
Colonel Pelly to biinsr the differences between the Wahabi Kuler and the State of Muskat
to a satisfactory conclusion.
With regard to our own causes of complaint against the Wahabis, His Excellency in
Council authorises the Resident, after hearing' all that can be said both on behalf of the British
subjects injured at Sur, and also by the Wahabis in justification of # their proceedings, to u-e
his own discretion in coming to terms with the Envoy as to the amount of compensation that
may be reasonably demanded.
But in both cases the Government of India entirely concurs with the Government of
Bombay in discountenancing Lieutenant-Colonel
•See paragraph 67 ante. susgestion that tlie interference of the
Turkish Government should be invoked. No good, but much harm, would result from the
question of Turkish supremacy over the Wahabi Territory being imported into our
relations with the latter power. It hag always been our policy (see* letter from Her
Britannic Majesty's Consul-General at Bagdad, to our Ambassador at Constantinople, dated
the 1st January 1S6^), to repudiate the Porte's claim to authority in that quarter; and the
Governor-General in Council is satisfied that any deviation from the principle will give nsa
to complications much to be deprecated."
XXVII.—Deputation of a Wahabi Envoy to Baghdad, 1866.
118. While one Envoy was deputed by the Amir of Nejd to Colonel
another was sent by Mm to the Turkish
political a. june 1866, nos. 26-27, Governor-General at Baghdad. The object
of this latter deputation is explained in the letter of the British Consul at
Baghdad (Colonel Kemball), No. 15, dated 18th April 1866
" I have the honour to report to your Excellency the arrival at Baghdad, on 29t h Marohj
of Abdul Aziz es- Sawevlim, Envoy from Amir Abdulla ibn bevsal-aKaud, the ^ ahab
Ruler. His mission and iti nature had been announced to me by H.r Majesty ice-Consul
at Bussdrah, but here he was for some time represented to be merely in charge of four Tvejdi
horses to be presented to the Sultan ; and in tlus character, ostensibly, I understand, Namife
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. proposes that he should prosecute his journey to Constantinople.
« A few days ao-o, howover, His Excellency intimated to me, through his confidential Secre
tary, that Abdul Aziz was also charged with a letter from his master com pining of the aggres
sions of the English upon the coasts of Nejd, and its dependencies, and f llcl J ln ^ T ^ lsl ^
intervention against their recurrence. At the same time His Excellency sent me the draft of a
note which he proposed to address to me inviting me to telegraph to the Govemor-Geneial f
India to suspend further hostile operations (rumoured) to be under contemplation untd
subiect of quarrel could be discussed between the two Governments ; or, it this course were
impracticable, asking my opinion as to the propriety of his despatching a telegram m his own
name, in the same sense, to the Governor-General.
" In reply, I stated to His Excellency that Abdul Aziz not having done me the honour to
advise me of his vi.it to Bauhdad, I could, of course, form no judgment of the causes and
grounds of his mission, but assumed it, as reported, to be devoid of political object; and that,
with respect to the relations of his master with the Turkish Government, as my previous
corresnondence, with His Excellency had been duly submitted by me both to Your Lordship
and to the British Indian Government, while, on the other hand, His Excellency had advance I
no additional f^cts or arguments, even in the form of Amir Abdullah s letter, to support the
position he had taken up, 1 did not consider myself justified, were such a step withm my
province, to act upon His Excellency's suggestion, nor could I see any advantage in himself
pursuing a course so unusual
119, In his letter No. 16. dated 7th May 1866, the Gonsul-General at
Baghdad reported the result of the deputa-
Poiiticai a, June 1866, Nos. 91-93. ^• on> -yfe shall quote the whole letter,
which throws much side light upon Turkish aims against Arabia even as
early as 1866 :—
"The Wahabi Envoy, Abdul Aziz -es-Soweylim, in lieu of proceeding to Constantinople
ha. bee n d™d byVLk Pa S ha. He aJrfmgly left Baghdad on the 3rd mstaal ou to
return to Nejd.