'Correspondence and Memoranda Respecting Consular Jurisdiction in Persia, 1873-74' [‎127v] (12/48)

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General at Constantinople. Of course I should not move until current duties in the Gulf
permitted.*
P S.—The foregoing letter was written in December last, but, expecting to proceed
shortly to British India (whether on leave or otherwise) I delayed sending my letter, in
the hope of an opportunity for an interview with higher authority.
It will be obvious to Government that, apart from what I have alluded to in the
above communication, and in previous letters ot greater length, there are many con
siderations which require to be borne in mind;—
(1.) That my charge is not wholly or principally in Persia; and that what is required
in respect to this Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. is authority to treat civil and criminal matters which may
have place at any point—whether Arabian or Persian or Turkish—round the shore-line
of the Gulfs of Persia and Oman, and whether these matters may happen as between
British subjects, or (as they tar more frequently do happen) between a British subject
and a native.
(2.) That if the intention be to provide for Consular jurisdiction in Persia generally.
Her Majesty's Minister at Teheran would seem to be the official who, by his position in
the country and by his relations to Her Majesty's Foreign Office, would be best qualified
for determining what rules and provisions may be required.
(3.) That I be empowered to delegate Consular duties at any particular point to one
of my Assistants, as occasion may from time to time require; at present I am continually
hampered by these small questions, particularly at Bushire. Our political relations round
the two Gulfs are my proper charge.
(4.) That the position of this Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. in relation to Her Majesty's Foreign Office
and its officers should be determined. This, however, is a subject on which I had parti
cularly desired to communicate orally with higher authority in India, for I still hope to
do so, and the subject could not be treated in a postscript penned just as the Mail-steamer
is starting.
Inclosure 14 in No. 1.
Colonel Pelly to the Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. .
Bushire, September 4, 1872.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the Government Resolution
dated 3rd August, 1872, and which reached me by the Mail now arrived from Bombay.
2. I observe—
First, that his Excellency in Council expresses his regret at the delay which occurred
in the submission of my Report dated 14th December, 1871, with postscript of 17th
June, 1872.
Secondly, that his Excellency in Council calls on me to supply without any further
delay my opinion on the question of what classes of British subjects the jurisdiction of
the Courts to be established in Persia, under the scheme indicated in the Secretary of
State's despatch of the 31st May, 1871, should apply.
3. As regards the delay which occurred in submitting my Report, I would respect
fully summarize the peculiar circumstances in which I have been placed since the date
of my receiving the Government Resolution of the 30th September. 1871, which called
for report.
4. Those circumstances have been already reported in detail, but in papers widely
scattered through the records. They are briefly as follows :—
5. The Resolution was addressed to me at Bushire simultaneously with my being
instructed by telegram to proceed to the Arab coast. The Resolution tound me, on the
21st October, at Muscat, and at a moment when I was prostrated with sickness and on
the point of leaving for India. Proceeding to Gwadur, en route, \ telegraphed my con
dition to Government, who, in reply, telegraphed back, instructing me to proceed at once
to Bahrein on emergent duty. At the same time I received a telegram from Bushire,
intimating the death of my Assistant the late Major Smith. 1 considered that, at what
ever risk to my own life, I could not but return to Bahrein. I did so accordingly, and
was occupied there with Her Majesty's ships until the 17th or 18th December. It was
then I found my first opportunity of access to my records, and 1 at once acknowledged
the Government Resolution.-}- But, as my strongest opinion lay in repeating a suggestion
* Vide letter of Mr. Secretary Gonne of July 30, 1866.
•f" Vide my letters dated May 6, May 20, and December 14, 1871.