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'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎35v] (70/120)

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The record is made up of 1 file (60 folios). It was created in 1913. It was written in English and French. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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66
3. El Odeid, Wnkra, Zohara and HI Bidaa, —These places are all situated on tKe coast of
the Katr Peninsula, and are therefore re^irded by His Majesty's Government as bein^ outside
Turkish jurisdiction. At El Ridaa, however, the Turks have had a small military post since
1H7*2, and thouorh His Majesty's Government have tolerated its existence for many years,
they have never actually acquiesced in it. To the other three places the Turkish authorities,
at one time or other during the past few years, have appointed Mudirs, but the officials have
seldom proceeded to their posts. In 1895 His Majesty's Government forcibly dispersed a
settlement of Bahrain malcontents, who had settled at Zobara under the Turkish flag. In
1903 and 1904 there was an attempt to appoint a Mudir to Wakra, and a British warship
was sent to prevent his landingr. In 1910 the Vali of Basrah appointed a Mudir to El Odeid,
but so far as is known he has not attempted to proceed thither.
Except with regard to Kuwait and El Odeid which is in the territory of the Tracial
Chiefs, Turkish aggression threatens places of little intrinsic importance. But taken
cumulatively and in connection with questions arising in neighbouring parts of the Empire
their action might hive considerable importance, and His Majesty's Government might be
forced to take local retaliatory measures. It is not possible to say beforehand what "acts of
aggression would call for such measures, as this would largely depend on the circumstances
of the moment.^ But it is desirable now to consider what form local action in the Persian
Gulf by His Majesty's Government had best take, what measures would be required of the
Indian and Imperial naval and military forces, and what effect such action would be likely
to have on Great Britain s position in Egypt and India, and on her prestige in other
Muhammadan countries.
I have submitted to the Secretary of State your letter of 11th instant enclosing copy of
Sir A. Nicolson's memorandum to the Committee of Imperial Defence regardino- Turkish
aggression in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
In bir R. Ritchie s letter of Gth April it was stated that in Lord Morley's opinion "it is
urgently necessary that His Majesty's Government should be in possession of the views of the
naval and military authorities with the least possible delay", and Lord Crewe had expressed
a similar opinion as long ago as 26th January. Lord Morley cannot but regret that no
more expeditious way has been found of dealing with the situation than a request that the
Defence Committee may consider it " early next month ", and he ventures to hope that in the
meantime the views of the naval and military authorities may be communicated to Foreio-U'
Oilice and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , quite independently of the Defence Committee, so that we may^at
least know how we stand and be ready for any emergency that may arise during the slumber of
the Committee.
Mr. Hirtzel to Mr. R. P. Maxwell.
(Confidential.)
Immediate.
India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , "Whitehall, S.W.,
12th April 1911.
F. A, Hibtzel.
Foreign Office Press—No. 377—7-7-U 21,

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Content

A printed précis of correspondence on various Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. subjects, prepared for the Foreign Department of the Government of India, Simla, in July 1911 (Part I) and July 1913 (Part II). The document is divided into two parts. Most subjects relate to Turkish claims to sovereignty in the region, including the presence of Turkish garrisons, and were chosen and prepared because of the negotiations between the British and Turkish authorities connected to the Baghdad Railway plans.

Part I (folios 2-35) covers various subjects and is organised into eleven chapters, each devoted to a different topic or geographical area, as follows: Chapter I, British interests in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Extent of Arabian littoral; Chapter II, Extent of Hasa and Katif [Qatif], Claims of the Turks to the whole of Eastern Arabia, Extent to which Turkish claims on the Arabian littoral are recognised by His Majesty's government, Proposed arrangement with the Turkish Government defining their sphere of influence on the Arabian littoral; Chapter III, Turkish occupation of El Bida [Doha], Extent of the Katar [Qatar] Peninsula; Chapter IV, Turkish designs on Katar, Policy of His Majesty's Government; Chapter V, Trucial Chiefs (Pirate Coast); Chapter VI, Maskat [Muscat] and Gwadar; Chapter VII, Kuwait; Chapter VIII, Um Kasr [Umm Qasr], Bubiyan and Warba; Chapter IX, Bahrain, Zakhnuniyeh [Zahnūnīyah] and Mohammerah [Korramshahr]; Chapter X, Proposed British action consequent on Turkish aggression; Chapter XI, Pearl fisheries. There are three appendices containing further correspondence relating to the main text.

Part II (folios 36-60) relates entirely to the Baghdad Railway and the negotiations between the British and Ottoman authorities that the proposal of the railway initiated. The negotiations covered several matters, including: the political statuses of Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar; the location of the railway's terminus; the ownership of the railway; and the creation of a commission for the improvement of navigation in the Chatt-el-Arab [Shaṭṭ al-‘Arab]. It opens with an introduction of the related issues (folios 37-41) followed by the relative correspondence (folios 42-53). It ends with the draft agreements (folios 53-60) - never ratified - drawn up by the two powers.

Extent and format
1 file (60 folios)
Arrangement

The document is arranged in two parts. The first part is then divided into chapters, each covering a different topic or geographical location. The correspondence section of the second part is in rough chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Condition: folios 59 and 60 have both been torn in two corners, resulting in the loss of some text.

Written in
English and French in Latin script
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'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎35v] (70/120), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C250, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023517380.0x000047> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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