'Précis of correspondence regarding the affairs of the Persian Gulf, 1801-1853' [‎98r] (195/344)

Part VI—Chap. XLI.
176
Explanation of the ^th Article of the Treaty with the Facifcated Arabs.
Piratical wars being in existence previous to the conclusion of the treaty with the paci-
ficated Arab?, it was necessary for the purpose of introducing the new order of things which
this treaty announces in its first article, viz. —" There shall be a cessation of plunder and piracy
by land and by sea on the part of the Arabs who are parties to this contract for ever/^ that
these piratical wars should be brought to a termination.
2. With this view the fourth article of the Treaty was inserted, viz. — " The pacificated
Arabs shall all of them continue in their former relations, with the exception that they shall be
at peace with the British Government and shall not tight with each other, and the Hag shall
be a t-ynibol of this only and of nothing more."
3. The meaning of this article when taken in conjunction with the definition of acknow
ledged war to be found in the second article, becomes perfectly apparent, and it may be thus
developed—"The Pacificated Arabs shall all of them continue in their former political rela
tions with each other, with the exception '' that as all piratical wars shall henceforward cease
they shall be at peace with tii« British Government and shall not tight with each other in
the same piratical manner as formerly.
4. " The flag is a symbol of this/' viz., that piratical wars have ceased " and of nothing
else."
5. It is not and therefore never can be called with propriety the British flag, it is only
the flag of certain friends of the British who may, by the adoption of this flag, be desirous to
avoid the risque of being confounded with pirates.
6. There is nothing in these articles which prevents the arahs from declarinp war, hut
whenever they do so they are required to fight after the manner oj an acknowledged war which
the second Article define^ to be that which is proclaimed, avowed ami oidered by Government
against Government/' The British Government has always said that it will consider all wars
that are not acknowledged as piratical, and treat whoever may be engaged in them accordingly,
and the latter part of the second article states that " the killing of men and taking of goods
without proclamation avowed and the order of a Government is plunder and piracy.
7. The British Government being most desirous to maintain to the whole of the Arab
tribes inhabiting the shores of this Gulf the blessing of peace and tranquillity, isvaost ready on
all occasions to offer Us mediation where disputes may exist and will always rejoice at their
peaceable and happy termination, whilst it avows most distinctly its absolute determination not
to tolerate for a moment any piratical practices, and it will look to the ditierent Chieftains for
the maintenance of due order among all their subjects.