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'File No. E/3. QATAR - Shaikhs Jasim & Ahmad al Thani & death of Shaikh Jasim in 1913' [‎45r] (101/394)

The record is made up of 1 volume (189 folios). It was created in 18 Jun 1900-5 May 1920. It was written in English and Arabic. 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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3
4. To summarize the main points of this history, it seems to me to be cer
tain that when the A1 Khalifa established themselves in Bahrein, the Jalahima
section of the Utub were able to become masters of the entire Katr Peninsula.
The whole of the western coast and the northern half of the Peninsula is still
dotted with the ruins of Sheikh Rahmah's forts, and in those days the towns of
Bida and VVakra were merely insignificant asylums for refugees from the Oman
coast and had no political importance. In 1811 A, D., the A1 Khalifa were
able to acquire all the possessions of the Jalahima, and from that time to
1851 A D. or even later, their political supremacy in the Peninsula was apparent
ly well recognized, though they doubtless had frequently, and towards the latter
end annually, to pay ' Zikat' (tithes) to the Wahabis, and probably received no
revenue from the various local tribes beyond their shares to this contribution.
The nature of the supremacy must have varied a good deal, but It probably was
not very different to that which the Turks themselves have exercised in Bida since
^871 A. D.
5. At some time between 1851 and 1866 A. D. Sheikh Mahomed-bin-Thani
was enabled to consolidate for himself-—no doubt with the good offices of the
Wahabis, to whom Sheikh Mahomed of Bahrein had made himself very objection
able—a compact little dominion containing the towns of VVakran, Doha and Bida,
sthe independence of which from Bahrein was practically established and ratified
by tne Government of India in 1868 A D., when a formal agreement was first
taken from Sheikh Mahomed bin 1 hani.
6 When the Turks conquered Hasa in 1871 AD. they claimed Katr as
an integral portion of the Wahabi dominions to which they had succeeded, but as
this district had only paid ' Zikat' in the same manner as Maskat, Bahrein and
the Oman Trucial Chiefs had often done, the contention of the Turks could not
be accepted as valid. 1 he fact, however, that the Sheikh of Bida, whose inde
pendence we had practically recognized in 1868 A D. and his son themselves
-went voluntarily and deliberately under the Turkish yoke, places a different
aspect upon the affair, and the opinion which 1 now hold is that it is useless to
.continue protesting or fighting against the inclusion of the possessions of the
Thani family.
Since Sheikh Jasim gave up the cares of administration some 5 or 6 years
ago and built himself a new home at Lusel where he hopes to spend the rest of
his days untroubled by the Turks, Sheikh Ahmed, his brother, has succeeded to
the Kaim-Makamlik and has been in constant communication with the Turks.
Both brothers have numerous grown-up sons, and when both have died it is
expected that there will be a serious struggle amongst the younger generation
for the headship of the family. Uur policy, I think, will most profitably be
devoted to contracting this Chiefship to its narrowest possible limits. My
predecessor, Mr. Gaskin, has of late years tried to show that all the towns of
the Peninsula are politically subordinate to Sheikh Jasim, but I do not think his
arguments are convincing, and I am told that the people of Khuwer Hassan,
Abu Dthuluf, Ruwes, Fuwerat, Dthakhira, Dthaayan, Sumesma and Khor
Shaqiq have never paid revenue to the Sheikhs of Bida and will scout the idea
of being their subjects. Business relations many of their pearl-merchants have
certainly had with the Thani family but nothing more, nor do 1 think that we
have ever made the Bida Sheikhs responsible for their misdeeds, but only for
those of the Bedouin nomads who, receiving subsidies from the Hasa authorities,
may reasonably be considered to be subcrdinate to the nearest Turkish officials
during their visits to Katr,
7. There are now three alternative lines of policy which I will submit
for consideration, the third being of much greater magnitude than the others.
8. First it seems possible to me that the suzerainty of the Chief of Bahrein
might again be asserted over the whole of the Peninsula excluding the Bida
Chiefship, if our only reasons for prohibiting his interference in Katr affairs in
1875 A.D was based on his weakness. The small seafaring tribes of the Katr
coast are law-abiding people, and provided that they are not harassed, 1 do not

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Content

This file contains correspondence between British officials at Bushire, Bahrain and the Foreign Department of the Government of India, as well as with Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī, Shaikh Aḥmad bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī and Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī.

The first part of the file covers Britain’s relations with Qatar between 1900 and 1905, and includes: details of gift giving to members of the Āl Thānī family in 1900, 1903 and 1904; details concerning Turkish activities in Qatar; various correspondence among British officials discussing the status of Qatar vis-à-vis Britain and possible future treaty relations; the status of the Āl Thānī family as the ruling family of Qatar; the position of Shaikh Aḥmad vis-à-vis his brother Shaikh Jāsim; and a short historical sketch of Qatar from 1766 to 1902 (folio 44).

The pages of the file that cover the years 1905 to 1909 include Fancis Beville Prideaux's report on his visit to Shaikh Jāsim at Lusayl and Shaikh Aḥmad at Doha (al-Bidda‘) (folios 49-59) in November 1905; details concerning the murder of Shaikh Aḥmad in December 1905 (folios 60-76); Turkish activities in Qatar (for example, folios 92, 95 and 102); illness of Shaikh Jāsim’s son, ‘Abd al-Raḥman, in March 1906 (folio 71); piracy activities of Aḥmad bin Salmān (folio 82); and the Āl Thānī family’s relations with Ibn Sa‘ūd (folios 114-117A) and the Āl Khalīfah family (folios 119-127).

The pages of the file covering 1913 to 1920 deal with Shaikh Jāsim’s illness and eventual death in July 1913 and the subsequent succession of his son, Shaikh ‘Abdullāh (folios 147-156); details of relations between the Āl Khalīfah family and Qatar, particularly with regard to al-Zubārah (folio 157) and their pearling interests; and a proposed tour of Qatar and the awarding of the C.I.E. [Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire] to Shaikh ‘Abdullāh (folios 157-181).

Extent and format
1 volume (189 folios)
Arrangement

This file is arranged approximately in chronological order.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: This file has a foliation number in the top right hand corner of each folio. The number is enclosed by a circle.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File No. E/3. QATAR - Shaikhs Jasim & Ahmad al Thani & death of Shaikh Jasim in 1913' [‎45r] (101/394), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/2/26, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100024044278.0x000066> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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