'Files 61/12 and 61/16 (D 80) Treaty between Bin Saud and H. M. Govt' [‎110v] (227/408)

To sum up the tribal situation, it may be said that the Sheikhs of Abu Dhabi
and Dibai, who are Maliki in sect, like the Chief of Bahrein and the people of Egypt,
are whole-heartedly opposed to Ibn Sand. The Bani Yas and Manasir of Dhafrah,
Mijan and Akal follow the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, as also do the Dhawahir of
Baraimi.
The A1 Ali Sheikh of Umm-al-Kaiwain, the Bani Kitab tribe, who are
associated with him, and the Bani Kaab are inclined to be neutral, though they all
are Hanbali.
The Naim of Baraimi, especially, but also those of Dhahirah and of Ajman
town and the coastal villages, and the Bedouin tribes of Dhahirah—Awamir, and
Dam—seem already to have welcomed the extension to them of Wahabi protection.
The Kawasim (Jowasim) Sheikhs of Shargah and Ras-al-Khaimah 100
years ago were most bigoted Wahabis. As the Shargah chief's father-in-law is a
Naimi, who, after recent events, must certainly be anti-British, it remains to be seen
whether the young man's near neighbour of Dinai can keep him clear of pitfalls,
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
High Commissioner for Iraq to Government of India.
Sir, Bagdad, January 19, 1923.
I AM directed to reply to Foreign Department letter, dated the 7th December,
on the subject of the apparent inclination of His Highness Ibn Saud to absorb the
Katar principality.
2. The High Commissioner had recently spent some days with His Highness
(from the 27th November to the 2nd December), during which the status of Katar
was in evidence in connection with a project, under consideration by Ibn Saud, for
the grant of an oil concession for a tract of Nejd territory. Sir Percy Cox found
that, in his discussions with the engineer representing the aspirant concessionnaires.
His Highness had apparently included the Katar peninsula within the tract of
country for which he was prepared to negotiate a concession. Sir Percy Cox at once
took him to task, reminding him that he had nothing to do w T ith Katar except to
respect it, under the terms of his treaty with us, and insisting on the limitation of his
discussions to country west of the longitude of the head of Salwah Bay.
The Sultan accepted this injunction without argument, and the High Commis
sioner accordingly doubts whether a further communication on the subject is
necessary, or indeed advisable, after so short an interval.
He will be fully prepared, however, to return to the attack if there should be any
fresh evidence of a disposition on the part of the Sultan to encroach upon Katar.
A copy of this communication is being forwarded to the Resident in the Persian
Gulf.
I have, &c.
B. H. BOURDILLON,
Secretary to His Excellency
the High Commissioner for Iraq.
Enclosure 5 in No. 1.
Translation of a Letter, dated \§th Jamadi I, 1344 { = November 27, 1925), from
Amir Abdallah-hin-Jaluwi to Sheikh Said-bin-Maktum, Ruler of Debai.
(After Compliments.)
I HAVE written you, prior to this, several letters and trust they have reached
you. There is nothing to be communicated except that affairs are quiet and good.
You know, may God preserve you, that we are one bone in which there is no
joint, and our relations are very strongly consolidated. God knows that we love you
just as one closely related to us. We have heard from the Bedouin some old news
which are in consonance with our old friendship. These good relations no alterer
can alter.
We have now heard that our brother Sultan-bin-Zaid has sent you a messenger
warning you that Said* has made for your side with 400 men, riding dromedaries,
that he is digging wells, and that we are following in his footsteps, but that you have
* A llasa official.