'Persian Gulf - Turkish jurisdiction along the Arabian coast (Part II)' [‎167r] (41/45)

67
matters it is essential that there should exist between
the British Agents a constant and confidential in
tercourse. The difficulty is to determine by rule
at what point the conduct of correspondence should
pass from the Hesident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to 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. in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. . Generally
speaking, all matters relating to Turkish jurisdic
tion or responsibilities should be transferred to the
Baghdad Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. as soon as possible, though on
emergency the Bushire Resident would, in the first
place, address the Turkish authorities direct."
' • ••
■ : • riinp
; ,y-..j^
7. :
——
it now remains for the Secretary of State to
consider what, under all the circumstances of the
case, is the best course to adopt.
On the main point at issue—how the police of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. is to be kept—his Lordship has
two proposals before him; one from the Govern
ment of India, another from the Foreign Office.
The Government of India proposal is (1) that
from Bussorah to Ojair the authority of the Porte
shall be recognized as established on land, but that
on sea the British Government shall for the present
continue to exercise some concurrent maritime pro
tectorate, pursuing pirates into Turkish waters, and
dealing with them, wherever caught, through the
Resident in the Gulf; (2) that south of Ojair
Turkish authority shall not be recognized, except at
one point—El Bidaa; and (3) that the Porte shall
be required (a) to stipulate not to interfere with
the trucial Chiefs, and to respect their boundaries
on the mainland ; (d) to recognize the territories of
the Chief of Bahrein as under the protection of
Great Britain; and (<?) in case of piracies from
within its jurisdiqtion, to enforce restitution of
plundered property and payment of compensation.
The proposal of the Foreign Office is (1) that we
should settle for ourselves the limits within which
Turkish jurisdiction shall be recognized, and beyond
which it should be rejected or opposed, and (2)
that within such limits we should as a general rule
look to the Turkish authorities to exercise a proper
police, the action of British cruisers being reserved
for very special occasions when the consent of the
local authorities has been obtained.
I venture, with great respect, to think that
neither of the above proposals meets the practical
rwiuirements of the case.
The objection to the course recommended by the
Government of India is, that it implies an under
taking with the Porte which will be found impos
sible of attainment. Apart altogether from the
fact, which is illustrated by the course of events
during a long series of years, and prominently at
the present time, that negotiation with the Otto
man Government upon any subject is extraordi-
3000. L