'MEMORANDUM RESPECTING THE NAVIGATION OF THE TIGRIS AND EUPHRATES.' [‎138v] (277/284)

32
The firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). of 1834 specifieB plainly that two English steamers can ply on the Euphrates, and
limits the number to two ; therefore no excuse for the augmentation of the Lynch Company s fleet
can be sought for in that document.
Further, it has been prored and has been accepted by both Governments that the steamers
mentioned in the firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). were employed by the Chesney expedition, and were the property of the
British Government.
The vizierial letter of 1842* refers to these two steamers, and has no bearing on the question
of Messrs. Lynch's fleet.
The vizierial letter of 1846 does not apply to any particular rights, other than those of a
general kind pertaining to all British-owned shipping on the Tigris and Euphratea
The vizierial letter of 1861 deals with the payments of dues, and refers to the vizierial letter
of 1842* as "authorising the permanent station of two steamers on that river {i.e., the Euphrates),
providing it were proved and established that the advantages resulting therefrom were
mutual."
It was on account of the loose wording of this document that the confusion arose between the
Lynch and the Chesney steamers ; neither the Porte nor the British Government appear to have
noticed any distinction between the two, but both seem to have accepted the '• mutual advantage "
and "two steamers" as applying to Messrs. Lynch.
The note from the Porte of 1875 is a strong piece of evidence against any prescriptive right
to augment the number of Lynch's steamers, for it consents to the replacing of one of the
company's steamers by another on the definite understanding that the actual number of steam
ships plying on the river shall not be increased.
In f883, when the Turkish Government attempted to debar the Lynch Company from plying
on the Tigris by quoting the firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). of 1834, which only mentioned the Euphrates as the river
navigable by the two British steamers, Lord Granville, in his communication to Musurus Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
insisted on the maintenance of the status quo of the company on the River Tigris, i.e., the right to
navigate that liver with two steamers.
It will therefore be seen that in every document I have mentioned (excepting the vizierial letter
of 1842 [sic. Query 1846], which applies only to British shipping in general, and not to British
steamers in particular) the number of British steamers navigating the Euphrates and Tigris for
trading purposes has been limited to two; hence it would be difficult to agree with Mr. Lynch
when he says," The endeavour to limit the number to two is of quite modern origin." Particularly
in view of the fact that in 18 <3 Messrs. Lynch complained that thev were prevented from running
their steam-launch, and only with great difficulty obtained permission from the Porte to run the
steam-launch with the mails, as well as the two steamers carrying cargo.
Taking the whole of these facts into consideration, I must say that I cannot see how it is
possible to apply to the Porte for permission for a third steamer on the ground of " prescriptive
right. It has never been suggested by the British Government that such a right exists, and in a
note verhale to the Porte of the 12th January, 1883, the British Embassy stated that Messrs. Lvnch
nad no intention of running a third steamer.
APPENDIX XXXIII.
Tramlation of a Letter dated the VMh March, 1823,/rom His
/Ar . ,. , s 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 Bussorah.
(Alter compliments.)
Gove'Z^r^ f 16 Erjglisl1 " ation ha8 arrived here, bearing a sealed despatch from the
Go eminent and a letter from yourself containing the following demands:
flrmatfanoLfo^cent Ce ^ Sti P ulation8 coata; " ed in treaties and regal
^e proper rate of
life, property, a ^d ^LT/of^U Tglte V' o^Go^trnt^ortl' 68 ^ 04 0f ^
aervante a. the/see neoeL~ g ' 8t0mS; and tllat ^Certain as many
unqu^stimiably 0 meet*witfcfe^ery 1 Drooer*hom ^ E , n S lish .™ an . !*> established at Bagdad, he shall
Art. 5. liLof exc h an ee^h-ill n n to his station,
from their dependants or proteL'ea hv comnulsion 10m h' I'l " sllro ' !s ' b y force, nor money
any kind ever be levied on their lamlpd t i ' tem P or ary or arbitrary taxes of
custom. heir lauded or other Property contrary to their due right and
their boats be seized Lthe'vMe trX^ ' ^^nd Bagdad ; L.Jll
subjects or prctU, arrivinq at Baadnd n/Z ' T the property of merchants being British
enter the eLoJhouse^f"
* This should be 1841.