ملاحظات أُعدت كمرجع خلال جولة كرزون في الخليج الفارسي، وأوراق أخرى عن بلاد فارس والخليج الفارسي [و‎‎٥‎٥] (٦٧٨/١٠٩)

PIRACY IN THE SHATT-EL-ARAB.
. T , n dea J m g with the question of piracy in the Shatt-el-Arab we have to
consider not only the Turkish hut also the Persian Government.
f bave pearly asserted in the past our right to take our own measures
for the prevention of piracy in these waters. In 1898 the Ambassador at
* Pro. No. Ill in Secret E, November 1898, Nos a autll0 rised* to present
9M26. a notef to the Porte intimating that
t Secret e„ November 1898, Nos. 91-126 arrangements were “being made for
“ Arab aa te season °to ^
acts of piracy, and to recover damages from the responsible Sheikhs” A
TM. nntinn t° n WaS ® im . ul f aneoilsl y conveyed to the Persian Government.
1 his action led to a marked improvement in the preventive measures, both
Secret E., October 1900, No. 174. Persian and Turkish, and in 1899 no out-
,•1 -r..,. . « . rage was reported on any vessel canwimr
the British flag in the Shatt-el-Arab. * s
2. Our measures have not, however, been taken without raising protests,
j Secret e., February 1899, No. si. 28th November 1898, the Turkish
.. „ . Ambassador in London presented a notet
asserting that the right of policing the Shatt-el-Arab lay with the Porte, and
requesting the withdrawal of His Majesty’s ships. While in January 1903
§ Secret e„ jane 1903 , Nos. 242 - 254 . Persian Government requested§ Sir
notice should be given of the arrival otSsM^sTn Pe^an^aters.^™" 8
3. Our latest pronouncement to the Porte appears to be that madeff in
^j| Secret E., November 1902, No. 140, enclosure July 1902, when it Was explained that
, the Captain of the “Sphinx” would
receive instructions to co-operate with the Commanders of the two Turkish
vessels detailed to the Shatt-el-Arab for the suppression of piracy and the hone
was expressed that the latter officers would receive similar instructions from
the Ottoman Government. As regards Persia, Sir Arthur Hardinge was
fwfw d ^? n i S Qnr e fco Sir Arthur Hardin s e > dated authorised^ to reply to the representation
r e pri j ‘ r TT- -AT • h , of Januar y 1903 i ust noticed that the
Commanders of His Majesty s ships, whilst they would always he careful to
respect the sovereign rights of Persia and to co-operate with the local author
ities must, in the absence of any effective naval force, retain their freedom to
take, at their discretion, and on their responsibility, even within Persian
territory, such measures for the repression of piracy, as the urgency or gravity
of any particular case might seem to them to warrant. J
. 4- Our evidence of the present extent of the evil is not clear. If special
action he considered necessary, it seems primd facie preferable to rely on such
constant pressure on the Turkish and Persian authorities as, combined with
the vigilance of a British ship of war, appears to have secured immunity from
piracy throughout the year 1899. With three gun-boats stationed permanently
in the Gulf, it ought in future to be possible to take more systematic action
than has hitherto been practicable in this matter.
5. In a demi-official letter, dated the 30th September 1903, Major Burton
wrote that a certain launch now in the possession of Messrs. Lynch & Co.,
though rarely used by them, was in the opinion of the Commander of the
“ Lapwing ” exactly what was required for pirate hunting. The suggestion has
been made that the launch might be acquired by the Government. The point
has been noted for consideration during His Excellency’s tour.
C. L. S. Russell,— 6-11-03.
S. M. Eraser,— 7-11-03.
Foreign Office Frege— No. 1457—10-11-03—30.