'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎180v] (365/386)

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of a three-fold nature : inasmuch as Ahmed-bin-Selman and companions first
seized a boat at Safwa, near Katif, whieh belonged to a Bahrein subject, then
plundered another boat, the properly of a resident of Katr, and eventually com
mitted an act of piracy on a Persian sailing boat crossing with melons from the
Persian coast of the Gulf. The principal act of piracy is that on the Katr boat,
which appears to be the first of its kind since 1900, and it will be observed from
this case that Sheikh Ahmed-bin-Thani has taken the opportunity of pointing out,
that it is the duty of His Majesty’s Government to grant protection to vessels
against piracy in view of the fact that they prohibit the Arab Chiefs from them
selves patrolling the sea.
5. The proposal to conclude a protectorate treaty with Sheikh Ahmed-bin-
Thani of El Katr has already been referred to, and the remarks contained in
your Secret despatch No. 41, dated the 9th September 19''4, on the subjeot are
receiving our careful consideration, and our views on the subject will he sub
mitted to His Majesty’s Government in due course. It is acknowledged in that
despatch that the absence of any agreement with the Sheikh may, in certain
contingencies, prove a hindrance to the proper exercise by His Majesty’s ships
of their duties in the suppression of piracy and the maintenance of the peace of
the Gulf. Moreover, the continuance of these acts of piracy bring into promi
nence tie unsatisfactory character of Turkish administration in EL Hassa, and
the apathy shown by the local officials in dealing with repeated representations
whieh have been made with respect to losses sustained by subjects of the Chief
of Bahrein. But whatever course of action may ultimately be decided on as
resards the political status ot El Katr, we take advantage of the present com
plaint received from Sheikh Ahmed-bin-Thani, through the Chief of Bahrein,
to urge that a strong representation should be made to the Sublime Porte with
a view to the arrest of the pirate Ahmed-bin-Selman and the restitution of
property plundered by him. The heavy loss inflicted on the Katr subject
affects the interests of British Indian and Bahrein subjects to whom the owner
of the bo d is indebted, and it is the third year in succession that Ahmed-bin-
Selman has committed these depredations.
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No. 167, dated Simla, the 3l.«t August 1905,
From—The Secretary to the Government of India iu the Foreign Department,
To—The Right Hon’blb St. John Bro quick, His Majesty’s Secretary of State
for India.
With reference to His Excellency the Viceroy’s telegram of 22nd July
(I) Letter from the Political Reeidcnt in the Per- W ® ^Te the honour to transmit,
eian Gulf, No. 32it, dated the 16th Ju y 1905, with for VOUr information, COpieS Of COrreS-
“oTutter fre the PeihicJ id m in .he ter. pondence, as marked in the margin, rela-
gian Gulf, No. 3to, dated the soth July 1905 , and tive to a recrudescence of piracy under
'“(aftr'i*. f,™ the Politic Resident in the Per. tlie leadership of Ahmed-bin-Selman in
sian Gulf, No. 365, dated the 2nd August 1905, and tllC vicinity of Bahrein,
enclosure.
2, Attention is invited to the fresh evidenoe of the complicity of the local
Turkish authorities which has been accumulated since we addressed you on 8th
December last, and especially to the statement of Salem-bin-M ubarak, an escap
ed 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 Ahmed-biu-
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 endea
vouring to acquire influence over 81ieikh Esa, in accordance with the scheme
laid before you in our Secret despatch No. 85, dated the 21st April 1904, it is
ip our opinion highly important that we should be in a position to guarantee to