"دليل الخليج، الجزء الأول، مواد تاريخية وسياسية، ملخص عن التوسع التركي في الساحل العربي من الخليج الفارسي وشؤون الأحساء والقطيف" [‎٤‎٣] (١٦٤/٦٠)

157. The Bombay Government thought that the above letter of Colonel
Herbert strongly corroborated their previous view as to the possible results of
the Turkish Expedition and the real designs of the Baghdad Governor-
General :—
" Midhut Paslia," wrote the Bombay Government, " has long been known as one of the
most able men in Turkey, bent upon extending the authority of the Porte wherever and when
ever an opportunity presents itself. The expedition, it is alleged is to re-establish the
authority of ihe Lieutenant of the Porte throughout the territory of Nejd. But what are the
boundaries of Nejd ?
" It has bpen pointed out in the letter of this Government above quoted, that the Ameer
of Riadh has always claimed a suzerainty over Muscat and Bahrein, and it now appears that the
official paper at Baghdad distinctly includes Bahrein and the country of Oman to the east within
Nejd territory. It is impossible to foresee to what complications these pretensions
may lead."
168. The views of the Government of India on these points will be
ascertained by a reference to the following note of His Excellency the Viceroy,
dated the 29th July 1871.
" I really do not know what the Bombay Government want us to do. Do they wish us
to define or rather, as Colonel Herbert expresses it instruct them as to our views in regard to
the whole country of Oman, boundaries, allegiance, jurisdiction, etc. ?
*' I always thouo-ht that it was one of the well known maxims of diplomacy that a gov
ernment who desired peace should not initiate the discussion of complicated and difficult
subjects, and should not reply to anticipated questions until they were put.
" I see no necessity whatever for expressing any opinion as to the boundaries of Nejd,
Maskat, any portion of Oman, or the littoral of the Persian Gulf, though we are perhaps in a
position to offer a sounder opioion on these subjects than any other government, administra
tion, or power.
'* The Bombay Government relies upon the ambitious character of Midhut Pasha, and
what they call ' his well-known designs/
" For my part 1 prefer to take as a base of action the positive assurances of tht Minister*
of the Pcrtdj rather than the character of the (rorernor-General of Baghdad, however well-known,
or the opinions published in the Baghdad newspaper, no matter how directly that journal may be
tuppoxed to he inspired to by the advisers of the Pasha.
" The Government of India are quite aware of the possible complications that may arise
out of the unwise action of the Turkish Government in this matter.
"We have expressed our views to the Secretary of State in the strongest language, and
at the very fir^t decalred our opinion that every possible amount of diplomatic pressure and per-
suation should be exercised to induce the Sultan to abandon this dangerous undertaking.
"We have received assurances more satisfactory than I had at first expected.
" As 1 said before, I do not know what the Bombay Government want us to do ; but all
I can say is, that if their advice is to be interpreted into this—that we should take the present
opportunity of attempting to define relations and boundaries as between the .differrent Chiefg
and States in these districts, I consider it to be a most unwise proposal.
" The Secretary has well pointed out that we have nothing to do with these matters.
4< Our obligations with regard to the Gulf itself, and the preservation of maritime peace,
are sufficiently onerous and difficult without entering into further enterprises.
" I agree in the opinion that no provisions for a joint protectorate of the fisheries, come
from what quarter they may, can be admitted; but perhaps it will be sufficient to say to Colonel
Herbert that as this duty of the protection of the fisheries and the preservation of the maritime
peace has devolved for many years upon us alone, and that as the Ministers of the Porte have
already assured us that no interference or change with regard to our position in the Persian Gulf
is desired or meditated by the Sultan, it therefore follows that nothing that has happened with
regard to the Turkish Expedition to Nejd can be taken to authorize any interference on their
pirt with those duties which are well recognised and which we shall continue unassisted to
perform."
Further narrative of the Expedition and Affairs of Nejd.
159. The accounts received from time to time regarding the doings of the
Expedition, and events in Central Arabia, are contradictory and unreliable to
a degree that makes it almost impossible to give any clear and connected
account of what has occurred. Writing too late as the 22nd November,