Skip to item: of 424
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 1247/1912 Pt 1 'Turkey:- Communication to Turkish Govt of agreement between Gt. Britain and Koweit, Bahrein & Trucial Chiefs. Decorations for Sheiks of Koweit, Mohammerah & Bahrein in connection with Anglo-Turkish Convention.' [‎46r] (11/336)

The record is made up of 123 folios. It was created in 19 Oct 1896-24 Sep 1913. 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.

Apply page layout

3
His Majesty’s Government in the matter of British participation in the Bagdad Railway,
and that they will meet that sacrifice by a corresponding modification of the views set
forth in the Turkish memorandum of the loth April.
8. His Majesty’s Government must in the first instance protest against the con-
x tention that there is a misunderstanding with regard to the assurance given, and
repeatedly given, to Her^ Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople, to the effect that
Turkey did not entertain any intention of obtaining the supremacy over Bahrein,
Muscat, or the independent tribes on the coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
9. 1 he original despatches, duly signed and dated, in which these assurances
were reported, have been carefully preserved in the archives of the Foreign Office, and
they can readily be produced for the inspection of the Turkish Embassy.
10. His Majesty’s Government maintain that prior to Midhat Pasha’s expedition
there were on the Arabian coast no symbols of lurkish authority, no Turkish jurisdiction
or occupation, effective or ineffective. And while they are now prepared to recognise Annex 4.
Turkish sovereignty between the southernmost limits of Koweit (as hereinafter defined)
and Ojeir, they are unable to admit that any of the arguments adduced in the Turkish
memorandum in any way invalidates the statement that south of Ojeir, in the district
of El Katif, there is no trace of Turkish power ever having been paramount; and they
are fully persuaded that El Katr has never been locally regarded as forming part of.
or indeed as being subject to the influence of, the Ottoman Empire.
For themselves, relying no less on the obvious facts than on the Turkish assurances
mentioned above, they have never so regarded it, and they have repeatedly informed
the Sublime Porte accordingly.
11. His Majesty’s Government can only reiterate their opinion that any lasting
settlement between the two Powers must provide for the definite renunciation by
the Ottoman Empire of the whole of the peninsula ol El Katr, including El Bidaa.
They have consistently opposed any consolidation of Turkish authority, which first
attempted to assert itself so recently as 1870, and they are bound to continue that
opposition.
12. The Turkish memorandum of the 15th April does not afford His Majesty’s
Government all the information which they consider essential to a due appreciation
of the attitude of the Turkish Government respecting Koweit. His Majesty’s
Government are concerned to ensure the continuance of the local government of the
Sheikh of Koweit, as defined in their memorandum of the 29th July, 1911. Further,
His Majesty’s Government would be fully prepared to recognise Turkish suzerainty
over Koweit and indeed to recognise the Sheikh as a Turkish kaimakam, but they
attach cardinal importance to the islands of Warba and Bubiyan beino- admitted by yf
Turkey to be within the confines of Koweit, to the withdrawal of the Turkish military randum
post from Bubiyan, and to a recognition of the limits of Koweit in accordance with (Annex
the indications contained in the accompanying memorandum.
13. His Majesty’s Government regret that they would consider the introduction of
divided responsibility for maritime police measures altogether incompatible with the
principles and successful accomplishment of their pchcy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . This
policy consists in the maintenance of the maritime peace, and has been successfully
pursued, to the advantage of all concerned, for a century. To modify the system in
these circumstances would be alike unnecessary and unjustifiable.
14. Indeed His Majesty’s Government would go further. They consider that they
have acquired by prescription not merely the right but the duty to maintain peace
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; they have always been opposed to any proposal to trench upon
their prerogative ; and it was this attitude which led to the declaration made by the
Marquess of Lansdowne in the House of Lords on the 5th May, 1903, that “His ;
Majesty’s Government would regard the establishment of a naval base, or of a fortified
port, in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by any other Power as a very grave menace to British interests,
and they should certainly resist it with all the means at their disposal.”
His Majesty’s Government must therefore ask the Turkish Government to recognise ( f
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. the right of Great Britain—(a.) To control surveying, lighting, !i
buoying, and pilotage; (b.) To police its waters; and (c.) To conduct all quarantine p|
arrangements.
15. In submitting these final proposals for the acceptance of the Turkish Govern
ment, His Majesty’s Government are not seeking territorial aggrandisement, nor are
they embarking upon any new developments of policy. Their desire is simply to
secure the recognition and to ensure the continuance of an order of things which, in
fact, grew up under their auspices and before the appearance of Turkish authority in
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and which has been proved by experience to favour the development

About this item

Content

The correspondence relates to the Anglo-Turkish Convention and assistance provided by the Shaikhs of Koweit [Kuwait] and Mahommerah [Khorramshahr] in the negotiation process, which results in the decision to bestow the award of KCSI (Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India) on both Shaikhs.

Also discussed are:

  • the negotiations between the Ottoman Government and the Bagdad Railway Company;
  • a request by the Turkish Government for copies of agreements and conventions made by the British Government with Koweit, Bahrein [Bahrain] and the Trucial Chiefs;
  • the decision to also bestow honours of a CSI (Companion of the Order of the Star of India) on Shaikh of Bahrein and CIE (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire) on Haji Rais, trusted confident and adviser to the Shaikh of Mahommerah.

The principal correspondents include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey), the Secretary of State for India (Viscount Morley of Blackburn, Lord George F Hamilton, and Lord Crewe), the Viceroy of India (Lord Curzon, Earl of Minto), 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. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (Percy Zachariah Cox), the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India (Arthur Henry McMahon), and representatives of the Foreign Office.

Extent and format
123 folios
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence for this description commences at f 86, and terminates at f 208, as part of a larger physical volume; 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.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 1247/1912 Pt 1 'Turkey:- Communication to Turkish Govt of agreement between Gt. Britain and Koweit, Bahrein & Trucial Chiefs. Decorations for Sheiks of Koweit, Mohammerah & Bahrein in connection with Anglo-Turkish Convention.' [‎46r] (11/336), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/262/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026446593.0x000061> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100026446593.0x000061">File 1247/1912 Pt 1 'Turkey:- Communication to Turkish Govt of agreement between Gt. Britain and Koweit, Bahrein & Trucial Chiefs. Decorations for Sheiks of Koweit, Mohammerah & Bahrein in connection with Anglo-Turkish Convention.' [&lrm;46r] (11/336)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100026446593.0x000061">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00009b/IOR_L_PS_10_262_0096.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000419.0x00009b/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image