The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11
THE OCCUPATION OF THE ISLAND OF
PERM BY GREAT BRITAIN.

The continued occupation by Great Britain
of the rocky i.let of Perrin, in the Straits Of
Bah el-Mandeb, at the entrance VI tue Red Sea,
as a cOaling station for the East India steam.
ers ranpiAn Ia connection with the Overland
Nail, is again made the subject of grave con
Hoversy in political circles in Europe, although
| in the excitement of the war in Italy, with its
battles of Magenta aud Solferino, it might natu
rally be expected that so small a matter would
be overlooked.
The French press is very Indignant at this
deed OF English nspy, patton, and insists on the
evacuation " ihe diminutive island for the fol-
iGwiag reasons:
First, because Perrin is part of the Turkish
Empire which has never been Coded by the
Porte to the British Goyega.aent; and its occu.
patton is. thereso--, violation of the princi-
pie ss.s which Great Britain and France went
to war with Russia-namely " the integrity of
the Sultan's dOminions and. sooond, because
England has no riG.. 10 erect Notifications
which woG,u give her the command of high.
. Way open to all nations, and by which, when.
ever she pleases, she may ohstrpct--nay, pre-
vent-their commerce. According TO the ad
vice Of the Freneh papers afflicted with Anglo
pbOhia, the strongest measures should be adopt
ed to compel England to regulate her ambition
mare eaniormably to the rights of other coun-
tries. The English journals of the Gallo-phobic
order regard this interference with, and ;,.ss
ton Of, the right of Great Britain ~ ',seize oc-
cupy, fortify, and colonize Perrin, or any other
place in the Fat waieh is conducive to her
mercNLtlie cQpYenlepce Or the maintenance of
Aer supremacy ia ass .Aa;,eEs relating to the
route 70 INDIA, AZ an impertinent intermeddlinp
with atlaire exclusively British, and in no wise
Concerning any other people. They insist that
the eminent domain Of Perrin belongs
either to the Sultan of Turkey or the ImaS.s of
Muscat, and that whenever either of ,sese po-
tentates complains Of Grea, isri.iashs Occupa-
ton as a trespass. sud appeals to the family of
nations, !, sil be time enough for the members
OF said family to express their Indignation or
meddle in other peoples business. With re.
gard to the second objection " the Rew British
"coaling statieT "1-namely, the power it will
give "a sbpstSHct and menace the commerce of
the world whepeyer IT spits british interests to
DO so-it is alleaea " defence that, as far as IA
route over = sea open 70 the world, and over
iand the territory of allies, can be called the
exclusive property Of q nation, the overland
route to India is Britisa property; and e. long
as the English continue in ami;S With the peo,
pie through whose country the route passes, no
European Stale has any right to interfere.
AVE great question seems to be, whether the
island is or is not portion Of the dominion of
the Sultan2 II IL he, and the British have
seized j without sp Aorisy, there ia some ground
fs the charge that the act is not quite consistent
With the faithful i9lRlmeR, Of the engagement
t9 lMeseTye the integrity OF the Sultans empire.
hat ii Is ReA at all clear whether the Sultan or
the IMaam Of Muscat is the legitimate owner
of the little rock which has suddenly become so
very important. International jurists are paz-
zled TO decide whether it is the SSl,aa or the
Imaum who is outraged BY ERglands per6dy,"
and whether the Island really belongs to either.
Pe;iM Il described as barren rock, four aud
q half miles long by two miles broad, riaiag in
the centre 230 feet above the level Of the sea,
uninhabited, and utterly sppsodSetive Of aay.
thing, even aS s9ano. II IS situated in that.
ray Of tie Straits Of Babel Map.;a5.eA where the
Rbyssinian and ArabiaS coasts approach each
other most pssRiS. It Is two mikes from ,he
latter and twelve from the forpAeb and quite
close e. The only safe passage for vessels going
from the Red Sea into the indian Ocean.
Were the island fortified and mounted With