'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Bahrein [Bahrain] Affairs, 1854-1904' [‎36] (55/204)

Turks fuituer east than they then were would undoubtedly be an encroachment
on Oman territory and would affect the Trucial Chiefs.
128. These papers were sent to Colonel Pelly for any remarks he migh have
to offer. He replied that it was an old and
Letter dated a7th Octobor 1873. somewhat perplexing question. As the
Pol. a .. December ,873, No. 420. political situation on the Arabian side of
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was unchanged since he was asked for bis opinion two years
previously, he adhered to that opinion, dis ., that " ive should avoid ai fay as
possible for the present mooting questions of territorial sovereignty"^ He allud
ed to the repeated written assurances of the Porte that it had no Intention of
interfering with the independence of our trucial Chiefs, a general declaration
which would be more valuable than any special definition. The time for effect
ively dealing with questions of boundary and supremacy would be when Turkish
aggression had taken permanent form or been abandoned. He considered that
the Chief of Bahrein should adhere to the arrangements made in 1869, and while
acknowledged to possess certain rights of pasturage, etc., on the Katar Coast
he should not therefore be held to be empowered to put to sea for the purpose
of coercing any port in Katar. He thought Odeid was subordinate to Abuthabi,
but that the question should not be touched till the intention of the Turkish
Government in striving to occupy the Arabian littoral should be manifested, or
if that occupation proved to be part of scheme between Turkey and Russia,
the matter might become very grave, for it would mean a dominating influence
in the Red Sea and in the Gulfs of Oman and Persia.
129. Meanwhile Colonel Ross reported that on the and September the
Letter No. iigi-147, dated 19th September 1873. Chief of Bahrein again asserted his sover-
Poi. a ., December, p. 421. eignty over Zobarah and the Nairn tribe
under treaty, and asked whether he should relinquish them or allow them to
remain as they were. Major Grant after consulting the treaties (Vol. VII, Nos,
72 and 73) had arrived at the conclusion :—
"That there is no special mention made in the Treaties of El Nairn or of Zobarah,
, though in Article I of No. 72 there is mention
itc ison reatses, o . 7. made of the dependencies of Bahrein, though it
is not stated what those dependencies are.
a From what I have heard whilst living in Bahrein, I should say that some years ago
the Nairn, together with many other of the Guttur tribes, were in certain way dependencies
of Bahrein; but the amount of authority exercised by the Rulers of Bahrein over Katar
seems to have varied in proportion to the power of coercion those Rulers possessed : if the
Chief of Bahrein was strong, the tribes acknowledged his supremacy, if was weak, they
denied it."
Colonel Ross requested Major Grant to be guided by his former letter, dated
28th August 1873 {Vide para. 125 ante).
130. Colonel Ross's letter of 28th August was approved by the Government
Government of t ndia letter No. 282^-p., dated ^ India and he was furnished with a copy
17th December 1873. of Colonel Pelly's letter of 27th October.
Po. ccem er, o. 42. an( j j n f orme( j t h at His Excellency in Council
concurred generally in ^ the views therein expressed, and that it was desirable
that the Chief of Bahrein should, as far as practicable^ abstain from interfering
in complications on the mainland.