"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [و‎‎٢‎٥] (٢٨٤/٥٠)

■ ■■■ — — ■ — ■ ' ■"»
India Office,
April 9, 1867.
To India Office,
April 13, 1867.
Mr. Elliot, No. 29,
January 17, 1869.
India Office,
February 19,1869.
To Mr. Elliot,
No. 188,
June 3, 1869.
Mr. Elliot, No. 299,
July 14, 1869j
35
Isamick Pasha was then engasfed in carrying out
a scheme for establishing steam communication
on the Euphrates and on the Tigris,^ hoping to
drive the company's steamers from the Tigris by
means of a competition organised under State
patronage; and in view of the probable success
of this enterprise Colonel Kemball feared that
the privilege of maintaining a Government vessel
on the rivers, if relinquished, might not be
regained. As an additional argument for
replacing the Comet " he instanced the service
to be rendered by such a vessel in promoting
the construction and establishment of telegraphs,
railways, and other works of paramount interest
to England and India. The question, after
consideration by the Indian Government, of
whom a majority (regarding the right to display
the British flag on the rivers of Mesopotamia as
a political advantage to British interests there)
were in favour of replacing the " Comet," was
submitted to the Foreign Office, and the latter
held that, considering the difficulty experienced
in regard to maintaining British vessels on the
rivers of Mesopotamia, it was very undesirable
in any degree to renounce or limit the privilege
in that respect then enjoyed by this country.
The question remained under consideration,
and towards the end of 1868 the India Office
stated that the Governor-General of India
suggested there was no longer any occasion to
maintain vessels on the rivers of Mesopotamia.
This suggestion was referred to Constantinople
for the opinion of the Ambassador, who replied
that Colonel Herbert (consul-general at Bagdad)
agreed with Colonel Kemball in considering the
presence of a Government vessel on the Tigris
to be attended with political advantage.
Mr. Elliot's despatch was communicated to the
India Office, who issued instructions to the
Government of India to have the " Comet"
repaired. Subsequently it was decided to apply
to the Turkish Government for permission to
replace the vessel by a new one, and Mr. Elliot
was successful in obtaining the Porte's consent
* Three steamers, of a size and capacity specially suited
to the traffic between Bagdad and Bussorah, had been
commissioned from Belgium, aud were expected to arrive
in the iShatt-el-Arab early in 1868. They were to be manned
by seamen of the Turkish navy, and equipped in all respects
at the expense of the State. (Enclosure in Mr. Elliot's
No. 29, January 17, 1869.)