"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٥‎٧‎٣] (١٧٨٢/١٧٢٨)

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1573
Colonel Nixon's error described above was, however, venial in com
parison with a second into which he fell In November 1877, Captain
Fraser having been recalled to India and Mr. Robertson's return to
Basrah being imminent, Colonel Nixon wrote almost simultaneonly to
the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department and
to Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, opposing
Mr. Robertson's re-appointment to Basrah. In his letter to the Ambas
sador he revived his complaint against Mr. Robertson which had been
dealt with and disposed of in 1875, accused him of "an unconciliatory
disposition," and suggested that he should be transferred permanently to
the Government of India or receive Consular employment elsewhere."
Such a presentation of the case was inexcusable, for it had already been
very clearly explained to Colonel Nixon by the Government of India that
Mr. Robertson was an officer of the Indian establishment, and that the
Basrah appointment was an appointnent under the Government of India.
The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department
replied that Mr. Robertson could not be removed ; but the representa
tions made b}' Colonel Nixon to the Embassy obtained the qualified
support of the Foreign Office,
The matter having come into discussion between the Foreign Office
and the India Office, however, Colonel Nixon's proceedings underwent
a general illumination; and the question then arose whether he could be
allowed to remain at Baghdad. His term of service under the Political
Department of the Government of India had expired in 187 7, on his attain
ing the age of 55 years; but, on representations made by the Foreign
Office, he had been granted a special extension of two years to the 1st
July 1879. His record was brought under review by the Government
of India, and it was recalled that he had in 1876 been severely repri
manded for his conduct towards Captain Warner, commanding the
" Comet," and that his action in Kulsum Nisa Begam's case to be
described hereafter—had been characterised by the highest authorities
in India as feeble and obstructive. The Government of India suggested
the cancellation of his special extension of service, and His Majesty's
Secretarv of State for India left the action to be taken in this respect
to their discretion Sir H. Layard, Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador
at Constantinople interposed on Colonel Nixon's behalf representmg
that he appeared to have been much liked at Baghdad and o av
stood well with the Turkish authorities and that consequently is
presence in Turkish' Iraq was useful in the state of affairs ^n Prevailing ;
bn,t His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs declined to
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