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File 160/1903 'Persian Gulf: El Katr; appointment of Turkish Mudirs; question of Protectorate Treaty with El Katr' [‎31r] (66/860)

The record is made up of 1 volume (425 folios). It was created in 26 Apr 1902-16 Dec 1910. It was written in English. 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

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to which the Sheikh of Koweit has been subjected by Suleiman Nazif Bey, the late
Vali of Bussorah, with regard to the property which he purchased, in the' course of
last year, from Ahmed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. -el-Zoheir at a price of £ T. 48,000 which was duly paid
down. When, however, Sheikh Mubarek took steps to register the transfer at the
^Turkish Land Office he was informed that he must register himself as a Turkish
subject : such a demand in reference to a transfer of land had never before been made.
Your Excellency should inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs that His Majesty’s
Government regard the conduct of the late Yali in this matter as an attempt to modify
the status quo with regard to Koweit, which is the basis of the understanding between
His Majesty’s Government and the Ottoman Government in this important question.
It appears, moreover, from reliable and circumstantial reports, that the late Vali
tried by tortuous methods to instigate the vendor of the Fedaghia property to impugn
Sheikh Mubarek’s title. The vendor remonstrated with the Yali, pointing out the
absurdity of repudiating the sale in the face of the title-deeds held by the Sheikh,
which, besides the signature of the vendor, bore those of all the Bussorah notables
as well as that of the British consul.
His Majesty’s Government rely upon the Ottoman Government to bring about a
satisfactory settlement of the registration of this property; they have no wish to raise
difficulties with regard to the past conduct of an official who has since been recalled ;
but I must add that the incident is vexatious, and serves to deepen the impression
entertained by His Majesty’s Government of ill-will on the part of the Turkish officials.
In his recent dealings with the Sheikh of Mohammerah the conduct of the late
Vali of Bussorah has been in the highest degree violent, vindictive, and unjust.
It is known to His Majesty’s Government from reports received from His
Majesty’s Consul at Bussorah that there were no disturbances of importance on the
Shat-el-Arab during last winter, that the Sheikh recently exercised his good
offices in the endeavour to promote a reconciliation between the Vali and an
important Arab chief of Turkish nationality, and that the Sheikh has, in fact,
carried his conciliatory attitude towards Nazif Bey so far as to acquiesce without
complaint in the destruction of houses belonging to him at Bussorah. It is further
known through His Majesty’s Consul at Mohammerah that Sheikh Khazal has
endeavoured to promote friendly relations between Nazif Bey and the Vali of
Pusht-i-Kuh.
Such was the situation at the end of March last when the Sheikh and the Vali
appeared still to be on the best of terms. Shortly afterwards, however, the Vali
brought against the Sheikh certain accusations into the nature of which it is
unnecessary to enter in detail, since your Excellency is already familiar with it from
the correspondence which has passed on the subject. No serious proof of the truth of
these accusations was ever offered, nor was any opportunity ever given to the Sheikh
to disprove the charges brought against him, which he was perfectly able and
willing to do. On the contrary, the Vali totally ignored a friendly and conciliatory
letter addressed to him by the Sheikh, expressing the intention of proceeding to
Bussorah to discuss the matters in dispute, and, further, on the Sheikh’s arrival
there on the 18th April, most unjustifiably and discourteously refused to receive
him at all.
The Sheikh had no alternative but to return to Mohammerah. ' On the 24th April
the Vali issued circular instructions to the local officials under his jurisdiction
summarily to remove all headmen dependent on the Sheikh, and on the 25th April,
during the latter’s absence at Ahwaz, the Turkish gun-boat “ Marmaris,” acting on
the orders of Nazif Bey, shelled the village of Zain belonging to the Sheikh, which
was afterwards looted and destroyed by Turkish soldiers. In the course of this
attack the house of the Sheikh’s mother was burnt, and one of his wives died from
shock caused by the bombardment.
On the 26th April the Vali, in two official letters addressed to the Persian Consul
at Bussorah, went so far as to threaten action against Mohammerah itself in the event
of failure to comply with his demands.
In spite of the injury and provocation which he had received, Sheikh Khazal
continued to be guided by the advice of His Majesty’s Government by maintaining
a conciliatory attitude, by restraining his agents and supporters from any aggressive
action, and by adopting their suggestions with respect to the wording of his
communications with the Vali. The latter, on the contrary, displayed strong
resentment at the attempts made by His Majesty s Consul at Bussorah, under
instructions from His Majesty’s Government, to promote an understanding between
him and the Sheikh.
-il

About this item

Content

This volume contains memoranda, copies of correspondence and telegrams, and minutes of letters between British officials regarding:

  • Turkish claims over El Katr (Qatar), and the creation of Turkish administrative posts on the Qatari coast, with 'mudirs' (sub-governors) being assigned during 1903 to Odeid (Al Udeid), Wakra (Al Wakrah), Zobara (Al Zubarah 18th-century town located 105 km from Doha. ), and Musalamia Island (Suwad ash Shamaliyah);
  • 'the desire of Sheikh Ahmed bin-Thani, Ruler of Qatar, to be taken under British Protection', in 1902, and a Proposed Protectorate Treaty with the Ruler of Qatar, in 1904;
  • the Ruler of Abu Dhabi's intention to occupy Odeid in 1906.

The main correspondents are: the Viceroy, the Foreign Office (Thomas Henry Sanderson), the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marquess of Lansdowne), and the 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. .

The volume includes a divider which gives the year that the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in it arranged by year. This divider is placed at the front of the volume.

The volume also contains the translation of a Turkish press article.

Extent and format
1 volume (425 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 428; 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. A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Condition: the spine is detached from the volume and preserved in a polyester sheet, on folio 427.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 160/1903 'Persian Gulf: El Katr; appointment of Turkish Mudirs; question of Protectorate Treaty with El Katr' [‎31r] (66/860), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/4, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026021679.0x000043> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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