File 3208/1908 Pt 4 ‘Persian Gulf: acts of piracy by Ahmed bin Selman near Katif [Turkish discourtesy to commander of HMS “Lapwing” at Katif]’ [‎120r] (235/358)

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No. 167 OF 1905.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT
SECRET.
External.
To
( 1 ) Tetter from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
Ko. 329 , dated the 16 th July 1905 , with enclosures.
( 2 ) Letter from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
No. 860 , dated the 30 th July 1905 , and enclosures.
( 3 ) Letter from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
No. 365 , dated the 2nd August 1905 , and enclosure.
2 .
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The Right Hon’ble St. JOHN BRODRICK,
His Majesty's Secretary of State for India.
Simla, the 31 st August 1905 .
Sib.,
With reference to His Excellency the Viceroy’s telegram of 22 nd July
1905 , we have the honour to transmit, for your information, copies of corre-
- - - — spondence, as marked in the
margin, relative to a recrudes
cence of piracy under the leader
ship of Ahmad-bin-Selman in
the vicinity of Bahrein.
Attention is invited to the fresh evidence of the complicity of the
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local Turkish authorities which has been accumulated since we addressed you
on 8th December last, and especially to the statement of Salem-bin-Mubarak,
an escaped slave of the pirate, corroborated in certain details by the son of the
owner of one of the attacked boats, which confirms us in our view that
Ahmad-bin-Selman is allowed to live undisturbed in Turkish territory and
to make it the base of his piratical attacks.
3 . At the present moment when the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Bahrein is
endeavouring to acquire influence over Sheikh Esa, in accordance with the
scheme laid before you in our Secret despatch No. 85 , dated the 21 st April 1904 ,
it is in our opinion highly important that we should be in a position to guarantee
to the latter the safety of his subjects while engaged in maritime trade,
especially as the Sheikh is specifically bound by his Treaty obligations to
refrain from reprisals. It is understood that a Pro-Memorid was presented
to the Porte in January last, demanding energetic measures for the suppression
of Ahmad-bin-Selman’s piracies, as well as for the restoration to the victims of
the value of the property plundered; and we would request to be informed
whether any assurances have been received in reply, or any steps taken by the
Turkish Government to indicate that they realise the gravity of the situation.
4. The proceedings described in the correspondence now submitted show
clearly how much the Political Officer at Bahrein is hampered by not having at
his own disposal some suitable vessel with which he can ward off and punish such
small piratical attacks in the neighbourhood of the island as do not warrant
an appeal to the Senior Naval Officer for the despatch of a gun-boat, and we
would, therefore, urge the advisability of supplying him at an early date with