File 395/1908 Pt 2 'Persian Gulf: Katif; Disturbances in 1908' [‎36v] (68/146)

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No. 2551, dated Bushire, the 23rd August 1908.
From— Captain A. P. Trevor, I.A., First Assistant Resident, in charge current
duties,
To—S. H. Butler, Esq., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India in the
Foreign Department, Simla.
With reference to the correspondence ending with this office telegram
No. 561, dated the 18th August 1908, on the subject "of the recent events at
Katif, I have the honour to forward, for the information of the Government of
India, a further memorandum on the subject, based on information received
from the Political Agents Bahrein.
MEMORANDUM.
On the return of “ Lapwing ” from Katif on the 13th August, 'Lieuten*
ant-Commander Gouldsmith, R. N., informed the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. that he
had called on the Kaimmakam on the 9th instant and that after some hesi
tation the latter told him that if reinforcements did not reach him within
about a week he feared that he would be compelled t6 ask the gunboat for
some effective assistance ashore.
Captain Gouldsmith spent the night at anchor off the town on board the
“ Bahrein ” Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. steam-launch, during which he heard heavy firing all
over the district. On the 11th August Sheikh Jasim of Darin went on board
the “ Lapwing *’ and volunteered the information that the notorious pirate ,
Ahmad bin Salman had joined forces with the Bedouin, and that the latter had
carried an old gun from the ruined Arab fort of Dammam ( ) (once the
stronghold of the Chief, Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmad, of Bahrein) within range
of Katif for use against the fort. Three large boat-loads of Katif refugees
arrived in Bahrein on the 13th. They confirmed the news about Ahmed bin
Salman, and said that he had himself applied the match twice to the gun, after
which the Turks made a sally and gained possession of it.
Lieutenant Prideaux-Brune, who bad been sent on tbe 13th to examine
the coast-line from Dammam to ’Ojair in the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. steam-launch returned
to .Bahrein on 14th, alter having had an interview" with tbe Mudir of ’Ojair.
The latter received him very politely and informed him that he had no hope
that bin Saud would go near Katif.
Bushire, 18th August 1908.
Telegram P., No. 572, dated (and received) the 1st September 1908.
From— Captain A. P. Trevor, First Assistant to 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. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department, Simla.
Katif. Please see my telegram No. 561 of 18th August.
On August 2 6th three hundred and twenty men and two guns left Basrah
for Katif.
Telegram P., dated the 3rd Septeml>er 1908.
From—His Excellency the Viceroy, Sinaia,
To—His Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London.
My telegram of August 20th regarding Katif.
On 1st September First Assistant at Bushire telegraphed as follows
“ On August 26th • * • • - •
* * • Basrah for Katif
G. C. B. P., Simla.—-No. 0-849 F. D.-9.9 08.-44.-H, A. W.