"البحرينيون خارج البلاد" [ظ‎‎٦‎٧] (١٧٦/١٣٤)

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2
The Public Prosecutor referred the case to the Chambre des mines on accu
sation at Basrah, the President of which happens to be a Christian and an inti
mate friend of my dragoman, Mr Naoum Abbo. The latter carefully explained
the whole history of the proceedings to him and, when the case came before him
officially, he had no hesitation in acceding to the private representations of the
Consulate and discharged the accused immediately. The prisoner was released
on April 8th and visited me on April 10th when I telegraphed to Your Excel
lency.
I think Your Excellency will agree that the whole proceedings are infamous
and that the Vali has flagrantly abused his authority in the matter and I trust
that no opportunity may be lost of getting him superseded.
I have, etc.,
F. E. CROW.
His Excellency
The Right Henable
Sir G. A. Lowther, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
etc., etc., etc.
Telegram No. 39, dated 9th (received 10th) April 1911.
From—Ambassador, Constantinople,
To—His Majesty’s Consul, Basrah.
r
I received your telegram No. 75 of April 7th to-day. Yesterday April 8th, I
addressed a Note to the Sublime Porte in which I demanded the unconditional
release of the Bahreinese and the acceptance of their passports.
I am informed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Minister of Jus
tice had previously sent the necessary instructions on the subject to Basrah.
Telegram No. 41, dated I3th*i5th April 1911.
From—Ambassador, Constantinople,
To—His Majesty’s Consul, Basrah.
* Referring to your telegrams Nos. 72 (?) and 78 Bahreinese. Were all the
prisoners released unconditionally or was there any question of bail ?
As regards the last part of your telegram No. 78 I do not understand your
reasons for the advice given by you to the natives of Bahrein in connection with
my telegram No 31 as stated by you.
Telegram No. 81, dated the J5th April 1911.
From—His Majesty’s Consul, Basrah,
To—Ambassador, Constantinople.
In reply to your telegram No. 41. All the prisoners were unconditionally
released in the ordinary process of law, two of-them by the Examining Magis-
^-trate, who dismissed the charge on April 6th and the third by the Resident of
the Ithamiye Court, who quashed proceedings on April 8th before the present
ation of the Embassy Note referred to in your telegram No. 39.
As regards the advice given by me, it did not seem to me prudent after
having obtained their release to insist locally on the illegality of their detention
from March 20th to March 26th, the date on which the warrants were issued,
pending the solution of the questions enumerated in your telegram No. 31, as
the Vali might find some pretext for again arresting them and so complicate
your negotiations.
Sent to Constantinople and repeated to Bushire by post to-day.
G. C. B. P , Simla.- No. C-17 F. D.-5.5.11-44.—H.C.S.L,