'Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf. Vol I. Historical. Part IA & IB. J G Lorimer. 1915' [‎1570] (1725/1782)

Question of
the use of
the title
" Eesideat,"
1903-1904.
1570
would be gained by endeavouring to claim the formal acknowledgment of t'tl
while it properly marks Colonel Tweedie's position in the Indian service 1 ^ ^
accordance with general international usage. X ' 18 not ^
It may, perhaps, be questioned whether the British Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Ba y-H
ever held that acknowldeged position as a diplomatic representative which f 1 ^
Tweedie soems to imagine once attached to the office ; and whether the i 'A ^
and influence enjoyed by some of his predecessors have not, in great measure 8 1
result of the personal good-will and respect of the Ottoman authorities ^ ^ ^
There can, however, be no question as to the importance of the interests
are entrusted to Her Majesty's Consul-general at Baghdad in tl e capacitv
the Government of Inrlia. They wore the original causes of the creation oA}
-.nd aie the main reason, at all events, of its continuance. In the protect" 'f
interests, and in discharge of the duties connected with them, Colonel ^w^d
I am convince'!, always have, as heretofore, Your Excellency's full ^ '! WllI)
assistance whenever he may require them. " ' Su PP 01 ^ and
Colonel Tweedie should understand that the position which he holds 1
immunities he enjoys, as Her Majesty's Consul-General differ widely from what
accorded to Consular Officers in most European countries, and would "be e msid **
belonging only to a diplomatic appointment. Bnt considerable moderatioT 1
judgment are necessary in the exercise of rights which took their origin in con ^
and comity, and which it is often in the power of the territorial authority ^7°+
m practice, even while they are acknowledged in principle. An attempt to assert tT
too ostentatiously and to procure their extension is Mire at the present mom fT
excite suspicion and jealousy both at Constantinople and on the spot and to
increased hostility and obstructiveness in the transaction of business.' 0 OCCa?I0D
The Government of India remarked, with reference to these orders
in a despatch to the Secretary of State for India, in June 1888 ;
We have no doubt that Her Majesty's Government will take any steps which ma v
be thought necessary to guard against the possible risk of general" decrease of BriS
influence m Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. owing to the contraction of the geographical limits of the
vilayatsio which its consuls are accredited. As far as Indian interests are concerned
we are of opinion that they can be sufficient protected by the Political Ee dent
Without any further recognition of his title by the Sublime Porte
Lord Salisbury's letter of the 20th March 1888 to Her Majesty's Ambassador and
Plenipotentiary at Constantinople appears us to meet the requirements of the ca S p
considering it necessary to move fulr
In connection with the King-Emperors birthday in November 1903
Colonel Newmarch, the British Resident, wrote letters to his foreign
colleagues at Baghdad which he subscribed with the double title of
Resident and Consul-General. The French, German and Russian
consular representatives thereupon sent him identical communications
requesting that he would not use the style of Resident, but only that of
Consul-General, in addressing them. Colonel Newmarch reported the
matter to the Government of India and asked for instructions: it
id**"
/ft'
jeaeae 81