'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' [‎6v] (23/82)

6
the pirates, and that they were therefore no further interested m the contest between
him and the Wahabis than they were solicitous for the welfare and Prosperity of
the Imam " Under the influence of that solicitude and a just sense of the benefits
and blessings of a state of peace, it was recommended to the Imam ta grant the
terms of pacification solicited _ by the Wahabis if consistent with the honour and
security of the State of Muscat.
Corres 'pondence with the Wahabis, 1813.
28 In the course of 1813, on a Wahabi envoy to Muscat announcing his arrival
Neid Precis at that place to 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 object of restoring ''the
§ 28 relations of amity between the two powers," the Governor of Bombay wrote in
reply : " Entertaining, as I have always done, the most friendly disposition towards
your master, I conceived it my duty even previously to the receipt oi ; your letter to
instruct Mr. Bruce, the British Resident at Bushire, to pommumcate with His
Highness Saud bin Abdul Aziz, and to establish ^uch an amicable inteicouise with
him as cannot fail to be equally advantageous to both countries as well as for the
general benefit of their respective neighbours, and it is with feelings of particular
satisfaction I observe Your Excellency has stated that a corresponding desire is
sincerely entertained by His Highness Saud bin Abdul Aziz, and I shall therefore
look forward with confidence to the speedy attainment Of our reciprocal wishes.
Wahabi Overtures, 1813-1814.
29. The Wahabi Amir had in 1810, in reply to British representations, intimated
that he had interdicted his followers from molesting British vessels. Late in 1813,
threatened by the advance of the Egyptians, he made overtures to the 1 olitical
Resident indicating his desire to form a connection with the British Government of
mutual amity and friendship which might be beneficial to both States and,
acknowledging the superiority of ihe British over every other nation at sea,
proposed that the ports of each State should be open to each other and a free and
unmolested trade carried on by their subjects.
30. The Government of India, however, while considering it politic " to maintain
a friendly intercourse with the Wahabi Chief and to endeavour by cordial and
conciliatory conduct to confirm the amicable disposition which he appeared to
entertain towards the British Government," thought it undesirable at this moment
to enter into any regular engagement with him, even of a commercial character.
Lor. I, G50.
Gr. of I. Ir.
18,2.1814.
Lor. I, 1077.
Sadleir,
Diary
(1866).
Lor. I, 66
4 1091-8
1-
Bo. Sel.
XXIV, 312.
British Proposal for Anglo-Eyptian Co-operation against Jowasimis rejected
by Egyptians, 1819.
31. In 1819,on hearing of the successes of the Viceroy of Egypt against the
Wahabis and of the arrival of the Egyptian expedition on the Arab littoral of the
Gulf, the Government of India endeavoured to arrange with Ibrahim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. for
joint operations against the J owasimis, with which Muscat should be associated, on
the understanding that in return Ras al Khaima would be made over to the
Egyptians. The British officer (Captain Sadleir) deputed for this purpose arrived
only after the subjugation of the Wahabis and the withdrawal of the Egyptians.
Mehemet Ali ultimately, however, replied that neither he nor the Porte desired or
needed foreign help in dealing with the Wahabis of Nejd.
32. The Chief Secretary, Bombay, writing in 1820, recorded that a letter had
"lately been received from Husseiu bin Rahmah [formerly Wahabi vicegerent in
Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. and Chief of Ras al Khaimah] referring to a treaty of peace concluded
between 1 his Imaum' and us, and professing a desire of continuing on terms of
friendship with the English Government, which has of course been positively
declined."
General Summary, 1808-1818.
38. The Wahabis in the early part of this period consolidated their position in
the Hejaz, Hasa, Nejd and Trucial Oman A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. . In the latter area their control of the
Sheikhs, exercised from the oasis of Baraimi, appears to have varied with the
effective force at their disposal ; but to have been particularly close in the case