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'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [‎35r] (21/32)

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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. .

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21
* Page 19.
t Sir A. Paget to Lord Granville, 29th
June 1881; No. 273.
From Foreign Office, 17th July; No. 506.
J From Foreign Office, 25th August 1881;
No. 619.
§ From Foreign Office, 27th August 1881 ;
No. 622.
|| See ante, p. 10.
at Assab was as a fact incontestable. Under such
circumstances it was often found to be a matter of
international convenience to make such arrange
ments as seemed best suited for an altered condition
of circumstances, while avoiding any act that
necessarily implied approval or formal recognition.
It was for this purpose that the proposal under
discussion had been made, and he thought that it
might have been accepted without committing Her
Majesty’s Government to any abandonment of
principle. He added that the Italian Government
were ready to make any declaration that might be
required as to such an arrangement not implying
any recognition of the question of right.
The remark in this Office letter of the 26th
July,* as to an alleged renunciation by the Egyptian
Government of its rights of sovereignty over Assab
Bay, was elicited by the report of a conversation in
the Italian Chamber on the 28th June,+ respecting
the affair at Beilul, when Signor Mancini stated
positively that the Egyptian Government had
lately declared that it claimed no sovereignty or
jurisdiction oyer Assab Bay, though it did over
Beilul.
Her Majesty’s Agent in Egypt was instructed
(13th July 1881, No. 131) to inquire of the
Egyptian Government whether it was the case
that they had renounced the sovereignty hitherto
claimed by the Khedive, under the Sultan, over any
part of the western shore of the Red Sea.
Mr. Cookson, on the 5th August (No. 211), for
warded the reply which he had received from the
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fakhry Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
to this inquiry, J in which the assertion of Signor
Mancini was declared to be entirely incorrect, as
the Egyptian Government had never ceased pro
testing in the most formal terms against the pre
tended acquisition of the Bay of Assab by the
Rubattino Company.
In proof of this the Minister enclosed copy of a
Despatch, with appended Memorandum, which he
had addressed to M. de Martino on the 6th July,
and also copy of a Note, in which, on the 25th
July, he disputed the right of M. Bianchi to the
title conferred on him of “ Civil Commissioner at
Assab,” as being one which seemed to confer upon
a foreign functionary some power within Egyptian
territory. •
The Minister’s Despatch of the 6th July above
referred to is an important paper, § being, in fact,
a reply to the Italian Note and Memoire of May
1880. || It called attention to the fact that, in spite
of past assurances of the Italian Government,
things were occurring at Assab which pointed to
a political occupation of the place, to the prejudice
of the sovereign authority of the Khedive.
In respect to the territorial rights of His High
ness, it was observed:—
“ La Baie d’Assab etait comprise dans le terri-
“ toire de 1’Empire de Zeilah, fond5 au premier
“ si&cle de 1’Hegire par les conqu^rants Arabes.
6005. F

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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
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'Italian Proceedings on the African Coast of the Red Sea.' [‎35r] (21/32), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B22a, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100029480026.0x000016> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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