'P G India Office Memorandum No B.437, P.Z.5620/1934, Historical Memorandum on the Relations of the Wahabi Amirs and Ibn Saud with Eastern Arabia and the British Government, 1800-1934' [‎6r] (22/82)

Wahabi Relations with H.M. Government, 1800-1818.
24. The first relations of H M. Government (as represented by the Government
of India and the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. ) with the Wahabi Amirs date from 1805.
The Wahabis had reached the sea coast with the conquest of Hasa in 1795, and
had subsequently extended their control along the Tnicial Coast between 1800 and
1803. The piratical activities of the Trucial Sheikhs (responsibility for which
was in some quarters ascribed to the Wahabis) led in 1806 to a British punitive
expedition against them. The expedition subdued the Jowasimis and concluded
a treaty with their chief. Despite the fact that the Wahabis were suspected of
being the moving force behind the activities of the Jowasimis, the instructions
given to the Resident were to refrain from proceedings which might be displeasing
to the Wahabi Amir. But it is noteworthy that the treaty concluded with the
Jowasimis in 1806 was concluded with them as independent Sheikhs and without
reference to, or the interference of, the Amir.
Punitive Expedition against the Jowasimis of 1809-1810.
25. Further outbreaks of piracy, both before and after the removal of the
Jowasimi chief by the Wahabis and the substitution of a Wahabi vicegerent, led to
a combined expedition against the Jowasimis by Great Britain and Muscat in
1808-10. The expedition succeeded in its objects, but it was conducted with a JSTejd Precis,
degree of caution and forbearance towards the Wahabis, probably now, as § 23 -
previously, the real motive force behind the pirates, which rendered its results of
little permanent value. The instructions given to the Resident were that he should
"be careful to make it in due time fully known to the Wahabi and all the officers of
his Government that it was our sincere wish to continue at all times on terms of
friendship with him and the other States of Arabia, desiring only to provide for the
security of the general commerce of the seas, and of the Gulf of Persia in particular,
so long and so unjustifiably interrupted by the Jowasimis, in breach also of a
positive treaty concluded with their Chief in 1806. . . . The just support of our
ally, the Imam of Muscat, cannot reasonably give offence to any other State or
Government."
Correspondence with the Wahabi Amir, 1810.
26. The Wahabi Amir having in 1810 entered into correspondence with the
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. at Bushire, in regard to the punitive operations which had been
undertaken against the Jowasimis, in which he expressed his desire to maintain iSTejd Precis,
relations of amity and concord with 11.M. Government, the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , § 25.
addressed him in the following terms (letter from the Honourable Mr. Duncan dated
9th August 1810):—" The British Government receives with satisfaction the
expression of your desire to maintain with it the relations of amity and concord—a
desire in which it cordially participates and has uniformly manifested. It is there
fore proper that I should assure you that the late expedition to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
did not originate in hostility towards you, but was, as above noticed, directed
solely to the destruction of the pirates who had, in direct breach of their own
positive engagements and with an entire forgetfulness of the former instances of
condescending lenity manifested towards them, long infested the seas in that
quarter, plundering vessels and murdering subjects of all nations indiscriminately,
for the British Government does not concern itself with the hostilities carried on
by you against the members of the Mussulman faith, on account of their alleged
deviation from the ordinances of the Koran, and its power will alone be directed
against those who, exercising the detestable profession of piracy, are the common
■enemies of all nations.
" The channel of communication between us being now open. I request you will
•continue to afford me the pleasure of hearing of your prosperity and success."
British Ref usal to assist Muscat against Wahabis, 1810-1811.
27. In 1810, and again in 1811, on the Sultan of Muscat, ax^pealing for assistance Nejd Precis,
against the Wahabis and representing that his recent co-operation with the British § 26a.
Government had involved him in perpetual and implacable war with them, in which
he trusted that the British G*overnment would not remain neutral, the Government
of India replied that the British Government had always considered itself to be at
peace with the Wahabis, their late co-operation with the Sultan not having been in
prosecution of war against the Wahabis generally, but merely for the extirpation of