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'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [29v] (10/32)
The record is made up of 1 file (16 folios). It was created in 19 Sep 1881. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
10
calling attention to reports which had been re
ceived of recent proceedings there, which were of a
nature to affect the sovereign prerogatives of the
Egyptian Government, which were clearly esta
blished by formal firmans, and requesting explana
tions. The Note added that if the Rubattino Com-
pany desired to establish a commercial station or
coal depot at Assab, nothing would have been easier
than to apply to the Khedive’s Government, which
was always ready to promote the development of
commerce and navigation.
This communication drew a Despatch from
M. Cairoli to M. de Martino (17th May 1880), of
identical tenour with that to Sir A. Paget of
19th April 1880.* The same historical “ Memoire ” * Memorandum, 14th May 1880, p. 31.
was appended to it, and the same conclusions were
drawn from the same references to the Abyssinian
Blue Book, viz., that sovereignty over the part of
the coast in question had never been exercised by
the Porte or Egypt, but had continued vested in
the local Sultans", and, so far as Assab was con
cerned, had passed, first, to the Rubattino Com
pany with the territory purchased, and so to the
Italian Government. The old protestations of the
purely commercial objects of the establishment were
renewed t t From Foreign Office, 22nd June 1880
No. 463.
A copy of Signor Cairoli’s Despatch and its
annexures was given to the Egyptian Government,
and was communicated by it to Mr. Malet, the British
Agent and Consul General, who, writing to Lord
Granville (1st June 1880, No. 222), observed:—
“ The present Despatch from Signor Cairoli
“ appears to have for its general object to prolong
“ the discussion as to the rights of Egypt over the
“ territory indefinitely, to pursue the designs wdrich
“ led to the occupation, and to prevent the
« Egyptians from taking any active measures of
“ interference. Nor is there, I fear, much chance
“ of this policy being frustrated. The Egyptians
“ are weak and vacillating in opposing a great
“ Power, and they are not likely to take measures
“ which would lead them into difficulties with
“ Italy unless they have a positive assurance that,
<f if necessary, they will receive more than our
“ moral support.”
In a letter from the Eoreign Office, dated the
18th June 1880,J Lord Hartington’s opinion was t Home; No. 454.
asked as to the answer which should be returned to
General Menebrea’s Note of May, attention being
called to the fact that “notwithstanding the re-
•“ peated assurances and protestations made to Sir
“ A. Paget by the Italian Minister for Eoreign
“ Affairs in regard to the apprehended intention of
“ Italy to lay claim to, or to acquire, territory in
“ this quarter, the Italian Government now main-
“ tained, as a consequence of Signor Rubattino’s
“ acquisition in Assab Bay, that the right of sove-
“ reignty of the local Sultan of the district, what-
“ ever it may have amounted to, had naturally
About this item
- Content
A paper written in continuation of a previous memorandum regarding the Italian Occupation of Assab Bay [IOR/L/PS/18/B22], which brings the story up to date.
The first section describes the course of events at and around Assab from May 1880 to September 1881, including protests made by the Egyptian Government to the Italian Government at their purchase of the whole coastline around Assab Bay and the islands nearby, and an enquiry that followed the massacre of an Italian exploring party. This section concludes with two reports suggesting that, although the Italians had not made much progress at Assab Bay, they had shown their intention to get a foothold on the African continent.
The second section reproduces correspondence between the British, Italian and Egyptian governments, and between the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. and the Foreign Office from May 1880 to September 1881. The correspondence relates to the purchase of land at Assab Bay by the Rubattino Company; Italian Government denials that the territory would be used for military purposes; attempts made by the Italian Government to legitimise their occupation of the place by encouraging the British Government to accredit a British Agent there, both for commercial purposes and for the purpose of co-operation in the suppression of the slave trade; and a British Government proposal that the Italian Government enter into a formal convention about the matter with the Egyptian Government.
The final section reproduces correspondence connected with a proposed disembarkation of Egyptian troops at Raheita to the south of Assab Bay; Egyptian appeals for a British warship to be sent to the area; Italian protestations that disembarkation at Raheita would constitute a provocation; and the British Government's re-affirmation that the sovereignty of the coastline at Raheita and Assab Bay belongs to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and the Khedive of Egypt.
The paper is written by Arthur William Moore.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (16 folios)
- Arrangement
This file consists of a summary of historical events (ff 25-28), followed by two further sections reproducing correspondence (ff 28-36) and (ff 36-40).
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description commences at folio 25, and terminates at folio 40, as it is part of a larger volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [29v] (10/32), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B22a, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029480026.0x00000b> [accessed 12 May 2024]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B22a
- Title
- 'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.'
- Pages
- 25r:28r, 29v:31r, 32v:34v, 36v:37r, 38r:40v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence