'File No. E/3. QATAR - Shaikhs Jasim & Ahmad al Thani & death of Shaikh Jasim in 1913' [‎45v] (102/394)

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think that they will raise any objections. Under no circumstances would I
permit any now uninhabited portions of the west coast, including Zubara, to b^
re-cobnized, as its soil is unfertile and the pearl-banks being difficult of access
from this tract, there can be no inducements except unlawful ones for people to
settle there.
9. As the second alternative, the complete independence of the sea-faring
tribes might be asserted, and in view of the fact that the Turks commenced the
negotiations with the Sheikh of Bida in 1871 A.D., in direct disregard of their
promises to observe the independence of the tribes with whom we had treaties,
we might declare our intention of establishing a small post on the east or north
coast of Katr for the prevention of piracies, and to maintain it so long as the
Turks remain at Bida. The expenses of a Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. at either Fuwerat or
Ruwes with a strong boat's crew capable of immediately proceeding after pirates
would not be heavy and the cost could probably be recovered from the tribes who
frequent the Katr pearl-banks. The fact that by this action we would be
recognizing the presence of the Turks at Bida, should not deter us from continu
ing to deal directly with the Arab Sheikh of that Chiefship in connection with
breaches of the Maritime Peace, a right which we have distinctly maintained to
be unaffected by the faithless conduct of the Turks.
- 10. Thirdly, as we recognize that our interests in the Katr Peninsula are
purely confined to the maintenance of order along its coasts and on the adjacent
seas, and that if the administration of the Turks was really effective we should
not object to their establishing their dominion over those Arabs, who are not
protected by anterior engagements with us, let us offer to recognize the sove
reignty of the Porte over the whole of Katr on certain conditions. These, as it
is impossible for the Sultan to guarantee an effective and humane administration
at the present time, should be e'ther that he should lease to us the whole of the
coast from the southern frontier of Koweit, or even including Koweit also, down
to the northern frontier of Oman, extending in land all the way for five' miles
only, for a larger annual payment than the revenue which he at present receives,
or that he should entrust the entire administration of this tract to British
officers with full powers to make all possible improvements, either arrangement
to be in force for at least 50 years. The Katif Oasis is only 4 or 5 miles broad,
and its present annual revenue is 12,000 Turkish Liras, including the receipts
from the customs and date-gardens. In ancient times, it is beiieved that the
spring-waters of Katif were carried in aqueducts for considerable distances up
and down the coast. There is little doubt that an administration on modern
lines would enhance the revenues and ameliorate the condition of the inhabi
tants enormously, but even if not much is effected in this direction, the probable
eradication of the practice of piracy and the pacification of the more lawless
sections will, I venture to think, repay us for the trouble undertaken.
If a settlement on some such lines as these indicated can be effected by
d!plomatic means, I would prefer this alternative to either of the first two which
I have submitted.
List of Chronological Events relating to the Katr Peninsula from 1766 A. D-
to the present time, showing the relations of the Utub tribe, the Wahahis
and the British and Turkish Governments with the indigenous people of the
Peninsula.
AW —Some time prior to the period under consideration, the Katr Penin-
sula together with Hasa, Katif and all the coast up to Koweit was under the
dominion of a powerful Bedouin tribe named Beni Khalid (known also on the
coast as Amayir). This tribe was driven out of Koweit in 1716 A. D. by the
Utub emigrants from Nejd, and when the Wahabis conquered Hasa between 1787
and 1795 A. D. the power of the Beni Khalid was finally and for all practical
purposes extinguished. At the present day, in the vicinity of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
only small parties of the tribe are on Jinna and Mus-allamiva Islands, at Anich
in the Katif Oasis and at Bida and Wakra on the Katr Peninsula. In the last-
named district, where the scanty representatives of the tribe are all of the