Persian Gulf and Turkish Arabia Affairs [‎273r] (19/52)

Content

This item comprises copies of enclosures to a despatch from the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. [Mumbai] Secret Department to the Secret Committee Pre-1784, the Committee responsible for protecting East India Company shipping. Post-1784, its main role was to transmit communications between the Board of Control and the Company's Indian governments on matters requiring secrecy. , Number 67 of 1847, dated 2 August 1847. The enclosure is dated 28 May 1847 (although some internal copy documents date back to 6 April 1847).

The primary documents are letters from Major Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, British Agent in 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. [Ottoman Iraq] and British Consul at Baghdad [also spelled Bagdad in the volume], to the Secretary to the Government of India and the Secretary to the Government, Bombay, enclosing his correspondence chiefly with the Honourable Henry Wellesley, HM Minister Plenipotentiary at Constantinople [Istanbul, Ottoman Empire]; Major Samuel Hennell, Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and HE Colonel Justin Sheil, HM Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary A diplomatic representative who ranks below an ambassador. The term can be shortened to 'envoy'. at the Court of Tehran.

The subjects covered notably include:

• Rawlinson’s opinion that Hennell’s suggestion that non-Turkish [Ottoman] vessels convicted of ‘piracy’ on the high seas can be seized at Bussorah [Basra] by the Turkish authorities, could be viewed as an infringement of international law and inflammatory to Turkish-Persian relations
• Rawlinson’s concerns about the Ottoman Porte’s revival of an obsolete Aliens Act which if put into operation by Nejib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Mehmed Necib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. also known as Muhammad Najib Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ], Governor of Baghdad, could deleteriously affect the properties owned by British Indians in the Ottoman Dominions as well as Persian [Iranian] property holders in Baghdad
• Information on persons exiled by the Shah of Persia who are now residing in the vicinity of Baghdad and are potential focal points for Persian dissent
• Failure of a Turkish-Persian conference at Khannikeen [Khanaqin] to settle over 200 claims of Turkish villagers against Persian ‘marauding’ tribes on the Turco-Persian border, and proposal for each country to instead keep small forces on the border area to deter further incursions
• Rawlinson’s concerns about Turkish attempts to place the Sheikh of Bahrein [Shaikh of Bahrain] in dependence on the Ottoman Porte and generally to influence the independence of the Arab Maritime Chiefs, following reports of senior Turkish officials visiting Bussorah [Basra] and Muscat
• Papers relating to the trade in enslaved peoples on the Arabian coast, including statistics compiled by Hennell of those imported each year to Bussorah; ability of the Arab Maritime Chiefs to evade suppression measures at Turkish ports by using Haffir Creek and Mohamerah [Khorramshahr, formerly Mohammerah]; Governor of Bussorah’s lack of powers over Arab and Persian boats carrying ‘slave cargoes’ apart from preventing them landing at Turkish ports; impact that suppression measures might have on the local labour economy, notably date groves cultivation; and the fate of manumitted ‘slaves’ at Bussorah.

Extent and format

1 item (26 folios)

Arrangement

There is an abstract of contents of the despatch, numbered 1-4, on folio 265. These numbers are repeated for reference on the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of the last folio of each enclosure.

Written in

English and French in Latin script

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