File 395/1908 Pt 1 'Persian Gulf: Katif; British-Indian commercial interests at Katif ' [‎106r] (61/195)

[Confidential.]
No. 191, dated Bushire, the 16th (received 28th) January 1908.
Prom— Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., 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. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to submit the further report promised in my letter
No. 464, dated 28th September 1905, to
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. to Resident, No. 664, dated your address, on the subject of excess
16 th November 1907. duties levied from British Indian traders
at Katif.
/ /
V
I regret that owing to the difficulty experienced in procuring the atten
dance at Bahrein, with their account books, of the parties interested, several
of whom have terminated their trading connection with Katif, it has not
been possible for me to address Government until now.
2. Captain Prideaux’s present communication explains the position
clearly. It will be seen, in the first place, from the figures given in State
ment A accompanying his letter, that the total amount of excess duty levied
now works out to Rs. 3,187 as compared with the Rs. 2,821 quoted by
Mr. Gaskin in September 1904 and communicated to the Porte at the time
by Bis Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople.
It will also be noted that for 19,748 Katif maunds shipped to Karachi,
representing excess duty amounting approximately to Rs. 1,017, certificates
of import granted by the Karachi Customs have been duly produced before
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. at Bahrein; but that in respect of 61.890 maunds
consigned to Kathiawar ports, especially Mandvi and Verawal, the claimants
express their inability to obtain certificates from the Administration of the
Native States concerned.
It is true that certificates endorsed by a Turkish Consular official are
ot forthcoming, but on the other hand, the statements of Tekchand and five
at of the other ten Hindus concerned have been recorded on oatffi and as
leir original claims have been corroborated in regard to the Karachi shipments
y the Karachi Customs, they seem entitled to credence in respect ot the rest,
'urthermore, His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople^ in the despatch
• • marodnallv cited, of which I enclose a
Dated 28th August 1905, to His Britannic ° , i j.r^ Tri«w that the
Majesty’s Consul, Basrah, from whom a copy Copy, has expressed t > „ , . ,
as received. production of certificates ot a lurKisn
lonsular Officer “ is now immaterial to our case as the Acting Vali °f Basrah
.as admitted the justice of the claims by instructing the Mutessant ot hi
lassa to recover the money.”
In these circumstances, there seems no reason why we should not finally
iress for the refund of the Rs. 3,187 now shown to have been il ega y ev ^>
mless perhaps it be considered more convenient in order not t 011 } ro uca i
tew element of discussion, to adhere to the amount, Es, ^ ^ U0
o the Turkish authorities. This if recovered might be divided rateabiy.
3. As regards the last paragraph of the Secretary of State s d^patc
fo. 61, dated the 23rd December 1904., I have the honour to state tha th
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. , Bahrein, informs me that up to date C Tn ),°“
it Katif have in no way relaxed their opposition to the Bntis i p t
loing business in that district in spite of the orders of t e u ‘
Llie export trade of Katif is practically entirely in the ban s o farmer
Sdansur bin Juma Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and Ali bin Paras. The la 18 . , an( j
)f the Customs for some twelve years past. There is i Customs
mmity between these two Katif merchants^ and w enever p •
’armers are in favour with the constantly changing ^ vern0 ], s Mansur bin
ind districts, they are as ready to levy illegal rates °f y 1 and Ali bin
fuma as from every other trader. At the same time bo ^ ^ Katif
Faras are both at one in their determination to keep the unia ot i ier i oca i
and as every successive Kaimakam makes friends with one or