"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [و‎‎٩‎٦] (٢٨٤/١٩٢)

1881— (conf.) the vizierial letter of 1846, whatever might be
the effect of that arrangement as regards
merchant vessels.
Mr. Plowden, in his correspondence with the
Vali of Bagdad, laid stress on the right of
Messrs. Lynch to use their steamers in any way
they pleased, including the towing of barges, on
the ground that the use to be made of the
steamers was nowhere specifically limited.
Lord Dufferin, Ambassador at Constantinople,
reported that he had acted on the instructions
sent to Mr. Goschen in No. 44 of the 16th May,,
and that his representations had been favourably
received.
The Law Officers were asked—
Enclosure in
Consul-General
Plowden, No. 4,
Commercial,
May 31.
Lord Dufferin
(Constantinople)
No. 68,
Commercial,
July 25.
To Law Officers,
September 17.
Law Officers,
November 18
(Appendix XVII).
* [Note.— Dr. Deane differed from the other
*Tjaw Officers on this latter point.]
Lord Dufferin,
No. 101.
Commercial,
November 1.
Memorandum,
February 7,1881.
* [Note.— This vessel replaced the " City
ot London.']
Sir E. Hertslet,
Memorandum,
February 8,
[Confidential
4802J.
Enclosure in
Lord Dufferin,
No. 587, July 20.
1. How far the general right to navigate the
Euphrates and Tigris can be claimed for British
vessels under the arrangement of 1846.
2. Whether the right claimed by the Euphrates
and Tigris Steam Navigation Company to tow
barges on these rivers can properly be maintained.
(See Appendix XVI, which also shows the papers
submitted to them.)
The Law Officers answered that they did not
think any general right could be claimed under
the 1846 arrangement, but thought the company
could probably include in their rights the towing
of barges.* Their opinion was subsequently
somewhat modified as a result of fuller informa
tion, as will be seen in their report of 188 L
Lord Dufferin reported that the Ministerial
Council had acceded in principle to Her Majesty's
Government's demands on behalf of Messrs.
Lynch's barges, and the company were informed.
Considerable correspondence passed during this
and the previous year relative to an attack made
in July 1880 by Arabs of the A1 Bu Mahommed
tribe under Sheikh Seyhood, upon the Euphrates
and Tigris Steam Navigation Company's steamer
" Khalifah,"^ near Amarah (between Bagdad and
Kurna). The vessel was, at the time, engaged in
carrying mails from Bussorah.
It was proposed, in consequence of this incident,
that a British gun-boat should be sent up the
Tigris, and a memorandum was prepared by the
librarian of the Foreign Office as to the right of
British ships of war to go up the Tigris and
Euphrates. In July a communication was re
ceived from the Porte, stating that it had not
been the practice for foreign ships of war to
proceed further up-stream than Kurna, and so far