'Memorandum on the Turkish claim to sovereignty over the eastern shores of the Red Sea and the whole of Arabia; and on the Egyptian claim to the whole of the western shore of the same sea, including the African coast from Suez to Cape Guardafui.' [‎29r] (57/70)

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Sir H. Elliot, No. 105;
January 12, 1870.
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53
A corps of Egyptian troops had disembarked in
Assab Bay, Italian property in the Red Sea : that
after a conflict the Italian flag had been struck
down and that the troops had taken possession of
this territory;" when the following explanation,
apparently bearing an official character, appeared,
stating how the territory at Assab was acquired by
the Rubattino Steam Packet Company :—
u It is known that the Company of Rubattino,
some months ago, acquired some property at Assab,
a place on the African coast of the Red Sea, from
the natives to whom it belonged, and there founded
a depot for the purpose of facilitating Italian
commerce between Europe and the extreme East.
Whether Assab belongs to the Ottoman Dominions
or is comprehended in the Caimacamia of Massowah,
the administration of which was ceded, by a Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’).
in 1866, by the Porte to the present Khedive for
life, is a question which does not appear to have yet
been clearly made out, and which in any case could
have no bearing upon the validity of the purchase of
the ground, which was a private affair of the Rubattino
Company. This is the point which is at present
debated at Florence, Constantinople, and Cairo with
those forms of reciprocal courtesy which are usual
between friendly Gouernments.
"The 'Kartoum,' the Egyptian ship to which
the telegram attributes a secret mission, arrived
within the last few days, at Suez, and did not, as
the telegram stated, leave that port.
" It had returned from Assab, whither it appears
to have been sent to obtain exact information as to
the nature of the Italian establishment there. That
such was the only object of the ' Kartoum,'
appears from the positive assurances which are said
to have been given to the King's Agent and Consul-
General in Egypt.
"It appears that, on disembarking at Assab,
where they found the Rubattino establishment quite
deserted, the crew of the Egyptian vessel thought
they might illtreat the natives of the coast, and
entered the uninhabited hut, which is at present the
only indication of the Rubattino establishment."
The explanation given of the affair by the Khedive
was, that about two months previous to the event in
question, persons representing an Italian Company
had paid money to an individual who had no right
[201] P
2-9