"ملخّص يحتوي على معلومات بشأن الاتصال الأول لشركة الهند الشرقية مع الجزيرة العربية التركية، طالما أمكن تتبع ذلك من سجلات حكومة بومباي، بالإضافة إلى أسماء العديد من المقيمين البريطانيين والوكلاء السياسيين الذين عُينوا في بغداد والبصرة في الفترة بين ١٦٤٦ و ١٨٤٦ ميلادي، وبمرافقة معلومات أخرى" [و‎‎٨‎٠] (٢٢٦/١٦١)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA —1646 TO 1846.
129
engagements of any description. He is to recollect that we can regard the Pacha only
as the dependent and subject of the Sultan, with whom we maintain amity, and at
whose Court we have an Ambassador. So long as our alliance with Turkey subsists,
our peculiar relations with any of the Pachas of that empire must be regulated by a
reference to the paramount obligations which connect us with the master authority.
" The Company's Resident in Turkish Arabia ought, we conceive, to consider
himself as acting exclusively in a consular capacity. On the duties which belong to
that character it is not necessary here to enlarge, but a watchful protection of British
interests and the persons of British subjects, diligence in the collection of
important information, and an unfailing communication to your Government
and to this country of all public events, and political changes, all these are
perfectly consistent with that firm and guarded abstinence from personal interference
with the internal administration, and external relations of the Pachalic, which
we conceive it for our honor, no less than our interest to observe."
283. A copy of the above despatch was forwarded by this Govern
ment to Major Taylor^ on the 3rd January 1832, with orders to use his
best endeavours to act up to the spirit and letter of the instructions therein
contained, and scrupulously to avoid any measures or negotiations with
the Pacha, or other Chiefs, who might apply to him, tending' to commit
the British Government to any line of policy in the smallest degree
opposed to the course laid down by the Hon'ble the Secret Committee.
284. In a further despatch, dated the 5th July 1832, the Hon'ble
the Secret Committee communicated to this Government the following
additional instructions for the guidance of the Political Agent in Turkish
Arabia, and which were communicated to that oflicer on the 29th
January following :—
" In all his intercourse with the Pacha of Bagdad, the Political Agent must ever
bear in mind that the Pacha is not to be regarded as an independent Sovereign, but as
the temporary Governor of the Turkish Province accountable for all his acts to the
Sultan, our ally, to whose sovereign rights we are bound to pay due respect, and as
the Ambassador at Constantinople represents the British Government and nation at
the Court of the Sultan, it is highly proper that your Agent should be instructed to
communicate freely and fully with the Ambassador upon all matters that have the slightest
tendency to affect our relations with the Porte. Major Taylor will of course transmit
to the Government of Bombay copies of his correspondence with the Ambassador, and
await instructions from thence before he acts upon any points not coming within the line
of discretion which you may have prescribed for the guidance of his conduct. Major
Taylor has already been told that as respects Persia his proceedings are to be regulated
by the advice of the Envoy at that Court."
285. In a letter, dated the 29th July 1833, Major Taylor (who a
short period before had attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel) reported
that Russia had obtained a paramount influence in the Turkish Councils.
In order therefore that he might be enabled—
" to observe the current and progress of these pernicious influences, and to detect the
intrigues of Russia,"
Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor suggested that a discretionary permission
should be given him
" to travel when and for what periods might appear to him necessary, particularly to
the northern districts of the Pachalic, and even, if requisite, occasionally to reside at
a point more approximate than Bagdad, to the scene of intrigue."
This suggestion was referred by this Government, on the 25th October
1833, for the decision of the Government of India, with the remark,
however, that this Government was of opinion that Bagdad, as the seat
of Government, was more likely to become the scene of Russian intrigue