رد السلطات العثمانية عقب قتل مرسال في البحرين [ظ‎‎٥‎٧‎٦] (٢٦/١٦)

Enclosure No. 9.
Telegram, dated 5th November 1871.
From—Governor, Bombay,
To—Viceroy, Jullundur.
Felly telegraphs for instructions whether action is limited to watching"
events. In my opinion, if, after all our representations at Constantinople and
assurances at Bahrein, we content ourselves with watching events, our position
in Gulf will he in future untenable. If force sufficient, I would not hesitate to
instruct Felly to prevent any Turkish occupation, and am confident that if this
were known not a blow would he struck. But some of the Turkish corvettes
are of modern construction and heavy armament, and I do not know what
Lynx and Magpie carry. In this case I should direct Felly to visit
Midhut Fasha on arrival, learn his intentions, and, stating circumstances which
excuse Bahrein Chief, offer good offices; if refused, hand him formal protest
with memorandum for transmission to London and in Constantinople to the
effect that Turkish Commander from commencement of operations employed
and took into confidence Nassir bin Mobarek, who instigated and laid revolution
in which Chief’s father was assassinated. The present Chief having been placed
on throne by our intervention, and Nassir compelled to fly, it was inconsistent
with friendly relations with this country to employ and protect a man who had fled
from punishment at our hand; that Nassir having employed the man who mur
dered Chief’s father to carry letters to tribes with whom we have treated, mes
senger had no claim to protection, as an envoy from private person, and has
justly met punishment of crime. If Bahrein Chief had acted hostilely, or with
out considering Turkish dignity, it resulted from employment of Moharek, and
if Turkish Commander proceeded to act hostilely Colonel Felly was instructed
to protest, and denounce his conduct as inconsistent with friendly relations of
two Governments. Exact protest may be safely left to Felly, hut it should he
formal, full, and precise. Instructions awaited. I think squadron should be
reinforced. Bullfinch here. Nimble, Aden.
Telegram, No. 11C.P., dated 7th November 1871.
From—Viceroy, Camp Pahlunpoor,
To—Secretary of State, London.
. Becommandee .—Herbert on 15th October reported murder by Bahrein
Sheikh of messenger from Lahsa with letters for Guttur. British officers
demanded letters and forwarded them to Guttur. Fasha at Bagdad cordially
acknowledged obligation, but wished to obtain reparation from Bahrein. He
hesitated, however, to apply officially to British Government and contemplated
sending commission to demand reparation. Enquiries show messenger was
probably sent by Nassir bin Mobarek and only incidentally carried letters from
Lahsa Fasha, and that he was the man who killed Bahrein Chiefs father.
eibert thought Fasha would make death of messenger pretext for interference
a ahrein. I instructed Herbert that Fasha, knowing views of Government
regarding Bahrein and explicit denial by Ottoman Government of intention to
extend supremacy over island, and remembering assurances given by Fasha
iimsen, 1 cannot support intention of interfering with Bahrein, but Government
v °uld consider such a violation of instructions believed to have been given Fasha
rom Constantinople, and of promises given by his Government, and would not
oo ’ on mei eiencewith indifference. Fasha left for Nejd. Similar instructions,
neic oie, issucx o elly. Latest news-report, 17th October: Beinforcements of
• 0U . , 01 ec ' 5 ^Ist about 300, with supplies of ammunition and com
missariat stores for Nejd.