'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Turkish Expansion on the Arab Littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa and Katif [al-Qaṭīf] Affairs' [‎110] (127/164)

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426. The result was that Sir H. A. Layard was informed that the existing
state of affairs could not be allowed to continue, and that the Turkish Govern
ment must be called upon co-operate for the suppression of piracy. Her
Maiesty's Government proposed for this purpose that the commanders
of Her Majesty's ships, charged with the duty of keeping the police of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , while they would be instructed to pursue their operations, as far
as possible, outside the territorial waters of the Arabian mainland north of
Odeid, should also have authority to pursue and capture piratical vessels within
the three-mile limit on that part of the coast, whenever this course of proceed-
ino- might seem indispensable to the attainment of their object. It would be
understood that in the case of any Turkish vessels of war being within reach,
the British cruizer would not act without inviting the co-operation of its com
mander, and leaving to him, if he desired it, the principal share in the operations,
and further that whenever practicable, the previous consent ^ of any Turkish
Governor or similar official on the mainland immediately adjacent would be
solicited. In either case any prizes made within recognised Turkish limit would
be dealt with according to the wishes of the Turkish authorities. Sir H. Layard
was directed to ascertain whether such an arrangement would be accepted by
the Sultan's Ministry.
427. In a more confidential communication, Sir H. Layard was instructed
that, wherever the Turkish authority was at the time actually and firmly estab*
liahed upon the coast, Her Majesty's Government were ready to recognize it %
and would he glad to see it accompanied hy a regular and civilized administra
tion. Further as regards Maslcat, Bahrein, and the po*se*nons of the Trucial
Chiefs on the coast between Odeid and Bas-el-Khyma inclusive, Ber Majesty's
Government, while they considered it unnecessary to seek for am formal
declaration from the Borte, renouncing all claims of sovereignty over those
territories, were in no way disposed to recede from their repeated denial of
these claims, and considered themselves hound hy their treaty engagements
with the several Chiefs to resist any attempt, whether direct or indirect to give
them practical effect,
428. In discussing the proposals given above, the Ambassador was directed
to express these considerations to the Turkish Ministers, in order to show how
far the arrangement was intended to extend, and what might be the possible
consequences of refusing it. Sir H. Layard was further given discretion to
abstain from any attempt at an arrangement of the kind proposed if he thought
fit, in which case it might be better simply to leave to Her Majesty's naval
officers a certain discretion as to visiting the waters of the El-Hasa coast for
police purposes, obtaning the previous consent of the local authorities whenever
possible, and taking the risk of remonstrance in other cases. If he considered
it advisable to suspend action on these instructions, he was asked to propose
an alternative course. In any case, he was, directed to make it clear to the
Porte that Her Majesty's Government could not acquiesce in further attempts
to meet their representations and overtures by delay and evasion, while the evil
which it was desired to repress continued unabated.
429. In His Secret despatch No. 44 of 12th November 1880, the Secretary
„ of State forwarded a copy of further
Secret, January 1881, o. . correspondence on the subject. From
this despatch it appeared that the instructions given to Sir H. Layard were
communicated to the Porte by His order in a memorandum by Sir A Sandison.
Abedine Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , Governor-General of Baghdad, subsequently requested
Sir A. Saudison to furnish him in writing with views of Her Majesty's Govern
ment. Mr. Goschen took the opportunity thus offered to address the following
note to the Governor-General:—
«
" Dated Therapia, 7th July 1880.
" From—E ight H on'blb G. J. Goschen , M. P., H. B. M.'s Ambassador at Constantinople,
" To—His Exchlibncy Abbdinb Pashx , Governor-General of Baghdad.
^ I have the hanonr to invite Your Excellency's serious attention to a subject which has
been repeatedly brought to the notice of Sublime Porte by Sir H. Layard, the injury