"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٥‎٤‎٨] (١٧٨٢/١٧٠٣)

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1548
British relations with Arabs and Persians in Turkish 'Iran
1905. q ' b "
It is impossible that British officials, residents, and travellers in Turkish
^Iraq should not be brought into contact with the Arabs who form
almost the entire population of the province, and with the Persians of
whom important communities exist at Kadhimain, Karbala, and
Najaf; but the relations which thus arise are generally regarded
with extreme suspicion by the local Turkish authorities. This was
particularly the case after the Russian war of 1877-1878.
In 1877 official obstacles were thrown in the way of a journey which
Wswifhfh . Mr " W " ^ aiUl Lady Anne Blunt wished to make, and eventually
Arab tribes, ' ^ ucceed ed in making, among the Arab tribes of northern Mesopotamia.
1877. 1 he attitude of the Turkish authorities in this connection was* described
a follows;—
T ^ e Turldsh Governme nt has always been very jealous of foreign intrigues among
e uuin tn es, whom it is their policy to keep as children in ignorance of all that
passes in the outer world. It has equally been their policy to sow dissensions among
them; and, as I have already described, by good fortune or good management, the
most dangerous tribes were this winter hotly engaged in civil war. Jt would be a pity,
the authorities doubtless thought, that so satisfactory a state of things should be inter-
ere with by mere busybodies from Europe, who might possibly inform the Bedouins
10 1 _ 111111 things h;u! taken for the Sultan in Bulgaria, and of the denuded state
0 tlie gan ' lson toWn8 and military roads of Syria. " Divide and rule " was an excellent
motto ; and Europeans had before now attempted to unite the tribes against Ottoman
1 u e, oi patch up peaces between them out of foolish humanitarian motives. More
over any day might bring the news of a crisis in the affairs of the Empire; and
ng an was known to ha\e her eye on the Euphrates. What then more likely than
that ours should be a semi-official mission, to spy out the nakedness of the land ?
Nevertheless the intercession of foreign Consuls was still sometimes
desired by Arab notables who had difficulties with the Turkish Govern
ment; and in this very year Sumair, an outlawed Shaikh of the Northern
Shammar tribe, had recourse to the good offices of Colonel Nixon, the
Biitish Kesident at Baghdad; but the result of his application is not
recorded.
* Lady Anne Blunt's Bedouins of the Euphrates, vol. I, pages 110-111.