File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎138v] (285/672)

I
Dated Bombay, the 25th August 1914
From— Messes. Turner Moeison & Co., Ltd.,
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. , Political Department.
As Managing Agents of the Bombay and Persia S. N. Co, Ltd.,
and the Arab Steamers Limited, we have the honour to bring to the
notice of Government the great inconvenience, hardship and losses suffered
not only by the Companies we represent but also by shippers of cargo to
Aden and Bed Sea ports and pilgrims proceeding to Jeddah by several of
these Companies, steamers being compelled to leave Turkish ports and held
up at Aden and other ports.
The “ Homayun ” arrived at Jeddah on the 17th with pilgrims on hoard
and about 12,791 packages to discharge, but after she had discharged about
3,000 packages she was directed to leave that port immediately for Port Sudan
where she had no cargo or passengers to discharge or receive. Similarly the
<5 Jslami **, which had just completed her five days’ quarantine at Camaran and
was about’to proceed to Jeddah, and the steamer “ Jeddah”, whose pilgrims
were doin" quarantine at Camaran, were directed to proceed immediately back
to Aden. °The “ Islami ” has been hung up at Aden and the “ Jeddah” at Perim
since the 21 st instafat. The pilgrims of the latter steamer are reported to have
mutinied at Camaran owing to the steamer having left that port without
taking aboard the pilgrims.
The “ Khosrou ” which was on her way from here to Jeddah with pilgrims
and caro-o for Aden, Hodeidah, Jeddah and Port Sudan and pilgrims has been
hung up at Aden since the 19th instant by the order of the British Political
Kesident there.
The “ Homayun ” has been ordered to proceed back to Jeddah from
Port Sudan to discharge the balance of cargo for that port.
The detention of these steamers at Port Sudan and Aden and the heavy
extra expenses incurred in consequence of their having to go back fiom
Camaran to Aden instead of proceeding on their voyage, added to the extra-
ordinarily heavy price of coal at Aden, have involved the Companies above-
named in serious losses, not to speak of the hardship and losses suffered by the
shippers of cargo by these boats and the inconvenience and hardship felt by
the pilgrims on board the “Islami” and “Khosrou” and the pilgrims of
the “ Jeddah ” still left at Camaran. Every day’s further detention accentuates
the losses, inconvenience and hardship already entailed on the several
parties above named and, unless the vessels held up are permitted to proceed on
their voyage wdthout further delay, the position promises to be more serious for
all concerned.
We, therefore, respectfully pray that Government may be pleased to take
immediate effective measures to ease the present situation.
/#
Telegram P., dated the 28th (received 29th) August 1914.
From—His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla ^sent to Baghdad).
Please refer to my telegram of the 19th August and your telegram of the
23rd August. You may send to Ishtar provisionally. Lynch is being con
sulted by Eoreign Office, who wdll telegraph later.
Telegram P., dated the 28th (received 29th) August 1914.
From—His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople,
To—His Excellency the Viceroy, Simla (sent to Foreign Office and Aden).
Indian pilgrims at Camaran. \
Arrangements have been made by the Sanitary Board for sending away
pilgrims left by “ Jeddah ” in an Italian steamer.