'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎32] (51/204)

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in. In April 1872 the Bombay Government wrote that they attached no
„ importance to the assurances of the Tur-
Proceedmgs, ecret, ay i 72, 0.77. ^ish Government as reported in the papers
received from Constantinople, as there was no information as to what tribes in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. would be considered by them to be independent, or what they
considered to be the limits of the kingdom of Nejd. The Government of
Bombay thought that some specific declaration as to what the claims were
should be at once obtained. The Government of India replied that the assuran
ces repeatedly given by the Turkish Government, to the effect that they had no
intention of obtaining supremacy over Bahrein, Maskat, or the other independent
tribes on the coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , were accepted as satisfactory, and that
it was not considered expedient or likely to lead to any good result to ask for a
specific declaration of the claims of the Turkish Government.
112. The policy of Her Majesty's Government was laid down in the follow
ing despatch, dated 9th May 1872, addressed to the British Ambassador at
Constantinople—
" I have received of late, through the Foreign Office, repeated representations from
the Government of India respecting the proceedings of the Turkish authorities in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , more especially with reference to the increase which the Porte has recently
made in the number of vessels employed in those waters.
Her Majesty's Government, however, consider that as long as Turkey is engaged in
upholding its legitimate authority in the Gulf, they cannot ask it to curtail the means which
it considers necessary for doing so, but they may fairly say to the Porte that they trust
and expect that no attempt will be made to extend that authority, which would raise
questions between the Indian Government and the Porte, the maintenance .of the existing
state of things in the Gulf and on its borders being considered a matter of great importance
to the general tranquillity of those quarters ; and that the presence of large Turkish
armaments is generally calculated to disquiet the bordering countries, and must necessarily
cause the British Government to take counteracting steps to reassure the public mind.
If the presence of an excessive Turkish force requires the Indian Government to in
crease the British force in the Gulf, the native mind will see in the latter an encourage
ment, not only to resist, but to thwart the Porte, and things will go on from bad to worse,
till at last, even in the admitted Turkish districts, a general feeling of uneasiness will
be produced, and will cost the Porte more to subdue or mitigate than the country is
worth.
I have, therefore, to instruct Your Lordship, while expressing to the Porte the views
of Her Majesty's Government on this point, to state that they will gladly use their crood
offices to restore peace and bring matters to a normal state of tranquillity/'
#
113. This despatch was duly communicated to Server Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. in June 1872,
and he repeated the assurance, already so often given, of the absence of all in
tention on the part of the Porte of doing more than re-establish their legitimate
authority in those districts where their right was undisputed, adding that Her
Majesty's Government might be satisfied that since the recall of Midhut Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
there would be less than ever a disposition to extend the field of operations.
v 11.4. Colonel Ross telegraphed as follows in July ;—
tf Frequent rumours reach Bahrein of intended move of a Turkish detachment from
Nejd to Oman coast. It is said their design is to gain footing at Beyranee through con
nivance of Chief of Abuthabi. I cannot rely on information as yet received, but have
instructed Assistant Resident to use J/aj to ascertain facts. Knowing letters to
have passed between Chief of Abuthabi and Turkish authorities, I think it possible he
may have made overtures. Possibly Colonel Herbert could ascertain if any extension of
Turkish influence eastward contemplated."
115. In September 1872 the Abuthabi Chief declared his adherence to
Political a, November 1872, Nos. 4.6. J Ur ^ S j P, 1 " 67 ' 10115 ^ been inclined
towards .the Turks, but on hearing of their
proceedings in Katif, Katar, and Hasa he kept aloof and determined to make
peace first with the Chief of Debai and then proceed to Maskat to renew
friendly relations with Syud Turki. When at Maskat he reported to Colonel
Ross (then 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. ) that he had received a letter from some Turkish
authority f> couched in vague terms, which he had understood to be an invitation
to recognize the Turkish Government as the paramount authority.