"مذكرة تتعلق بالملاحة في نهري دجلة والفرات". [ظ‎‎١‎٢‎٦] (٢٨٤/٢٥٣)

one enclosure, addressed by me to Her Majesty's consnl at Bagdad respecting the navigation of
the Tigris and Euphrates by British merchant-vessels.
STRATFORD CANNING.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir Stratford Canning to Major Rawlinson*
(No. 2.)
g- r ' ' Constantinople, March 25, 1846.
' 1. MY late discussions with the Porte respecting the navigation of the Tigris and Euphrates
by vessels under British colours, and the duties to be paid by our vessels when engaged in
that navigation, have terminated in an arrangement which I trust will prove no less satisfactory
to the interests concerned than consistent with the principles acknowledged by Her Majesty s
Government. _ .
2. British-owned vessels will continue to navigate the waters of Mesopotamia under their
national colours equally whether they are engaged in the foreign or in the internal trade, and
they will pay upon the'merchandise which they convey the amount of duties respectively applied
to each case by the convention of Balta Liman.
3. In the event of their being employed above the usual ports of entry in the internal traffic
of the country, they will be liable to the anchorage duty which is always paid here, and which is
sanctioned by the Capitulations; but instead of paying 12 piastres as levied upon each vessel in
the harbour of Constantinople, they will only pay 5 piastres.
4. There is no question of any difference between steamboats and sailing vessels.
5. With respect to vessels built in the country and owned by subjects of Great Britain, which
cannot by our own regulations legally carry the national flag without registration under British
authority, they will not pay higher duties than those required of the most favoured class of
natives engaged in the internal trade, but they must be content to navigate like other vessels of
the country. Though it is not impossible that such vessels as have hitherto abusively enjoyed
the privilege of carrying their national colours may be tacitly allowed through favour to carry
on the same practice, it would not, I conceive, be proper for any British authority to support a
claim which is manifestly at variance with the enactments of own legislature, be the state of
Turkish law what it will.
6. The prospects which are opening to our trade in the eastern part of this Empire, and the
importance which may justly be attached to the free navigation of its great rivers wherever our
vessels can find a sufficient depth of water for that purpose, have made me anxious to place our
very natural, though somewhat doubtful, claims upon a sound footing, sanctioned bv the
acknowledgment of the Porte itself. This object could only be attained by frankly admitting
such of its pretensions as we could not in fairness or consistency dispute. The moment was
favourable, and I was unwilling to neglect it.
7. I am not, however, yet in possession of the Grand Vizier's instructions to Nejib Pasha. The
council has sanctioned the proposal submitted to it by the Ottoman Minister for Foreign Affairs,
but until the formal confirmation of the Sovereign be given, it cannot be made the subject of a
definitive order to the provincial authorities.
8. The only object therefore of this despatch is to apprise you of the arrangement which is
contemplated. I venture to hope that it will be in my power to send you a copy of the
instructions destined for Nejib Pasha by the ensuing post. In the meantime, it will be a o-reat
satisfaction to me to find that the view which I have taken of this question accords in general
with the result of your local observation and experience.
I am, &c.
STRATFORD CANNING.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1
Sir Stratford Canning to Major Bawlinson.
ivU* yy '
'ENCLOSED herewith I send yon, in translation, a copy of thf M Zt^^ctfo' 6 'to
Nejib f asha respecting the navigation of the Tigris and Euphrates by British merchant -vcseel-
transmitting this doeutnent to you, I have nothing to add to the remarks and exolanati.mo
contained m my former despatch to you upon the same subject. I rely upon your zeal to denVo
rfBri^a^ 0f adVant ^ y-WLg to Ihe intCTests
I am, <Scc.
STRATFORD CANNING.
convenience of^eference? 1,6 na "' iK1<xt i,! i lie ongnml despatch. The numbers have now been inserted for