'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1911-1914' [‎193v] (391/488)

120
PERSIAN GrXJLF ADMINISTRATION REPORT
Xhiring the stay of these Turkish troops there was some excitement in
Bahrain and there was considerable chance of rows occurring between them
and the local Nejdi population. It was, therefore, suggested that His Majes-
ty's Government might be moved to inform the Porte that Turkish troops
would not in future be allowed to use Bahrain as a base for operations on the
mainland.
Directly he took over the de facto administration of the province of Hasa
and the coast towns Bin Saud entered into correspondence with the Resident,
and with 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. , Bahrain, with a view to re-establishing what he
called the " friendly relations which had existed between the British Govern
ment and his forebears. ,, In the course of this correspondence Shaikh Abdul
Aziz expressed a desire to meet the Political Hesident, so Sir Percy Cox sug
gested to him that he should come to the coast for a meeting when the Resi
de ut visited Bahrain about the 20th November 1913.
Unfortunately the Resident's letter found Bin Saud at Kasim, at the
other end of his territory, and it was impossible for him to reach Bahrain in
time. During the Resident's visit on the 21st November a messenger arrived
from Bin Sciud saying that he regretted he could jiot come in time and adding
that he would reach the coast about the 10th Moharram (11th December).
This was, of course, too late for Sir Percy Cox and it was arranged that 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. , Bahrain, accompanied by Captain Shakespear, Political
Agent, Kuwait, should go over to Ojair and meet Bin Saud when he reached
the coast.
Accordingly, having heard from Bin Saud that he would be at Ojair on
the 15th December, 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. accompanied by Captain Shakespear
left Bahrain on the moming of the Mth and reached Ojair early on the
]5th. Bin Saud, who had arrived about half an hour before, received 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. on the quay and was most courteous and polite.
Major Trevor and Captain Shakespear spent that day and the next in
Bin Saud's camp and were most hospitably entertained. The camp broke up
and Bin Saud left for Nejdi about daylight of the 17th, 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.
setting sail shortly after.
Bin Saud was evidently anxious to obtain the good offices of His Majes
ty's Government in settling his dispute with the Turkish Government and
expressed himself ready to meet the wishes of Government. He issued orders
to his e< Amir " at Katif to help and protect British Traders, and to settle
their cases and claims (and those of British Proteges also) in consultation
with 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. , Bahrain.
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. and Captain Shakespear got back to Bahrain on
the evening of the 18th December, having been delayed by calms and a con
trary wind.
Since the occupation of the Hasa Province by Bin Saud this route has
„ m n „ ^ been practically safe, and caravans have
Oiair-Hasa Trade Route. , 1 <» i rrn -n i •
been passing freely. The Bedouin rob
bers are at present too much afraid of Bin Saud to attempt any raids on cara
vans. Doubtless this fear will wear off, but it is certain that the state of the
road will be better under Bin Saud's regime than the Turks ; it could not, in
any case, be worse.
After the Amir Abdul Aziz Bin Saud took Hasa Province there
Katr seemed to be considerable probability
that he would overrun Katr also, and
Shaikh Jasim was in considerable trepidation, especially as some con
nections of Bin Saud's, the Araif family, who had been intriguing against
him, had taken refuge in Katr. Some correspondence passed between Shaikh
Abdul Aziz and Shaikh Jasim, in which the former called upon the latter to
turn out the Turkish garrison and give up the Araif, but Shaikh Jasim de
clined to do either, the first because he hoped the Turkish garrison would he
some protection, and the second because it was against Arab usage.
Shaikh Jasim bin Muhammad Ath Thani died on the 17th July 1913, after
a short illness, at a very great age. He was succeeded by his second son Shaikh
Abdullah who had for a number of years been Governor of the port of