File 3208/1908 Pt 4 ‘Persian Gulf: acts of piracy by Ahmed bin Selman near Katif [Turkish discourtesy to commander of HMS “Lapwing” at Katif]’ [‎71r] (137/358)

[Confidential ]
No. 2718 , dated Bushire, the 24 th November (received 4 th December) 1906 .
From— 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.
With reference to paragraph 2 of my letter No.^2205, dated 16th
September 1 ( .;06, on the subject of the pirate Ahmed bin Selman, I have the
honour to forward, for information, copies of the letters which passed between
myself and Sheikh Jasim bin Thani, together with a copy of letter No. 499,
dated 16th November 1906, from 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. , Bahrein, to my address,
on the same subject.
Dated the 25 th September 1906 .
From— 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 —Sheikh Jasim bin Thani, Lusail.
After compliments. —I trust that since I had the pleasure of seeing you in
Lusail in May last, you have been enjoying good health, and that your eyes
no longer give you any trouble.
You will not have forgotten that my object in visiting you then apart
from the pleasure of meeting and conversing with you, was to warn yourself
and your sons of the rumours abroad regarding the intentions of the pirate
Ahmed bin Selman, and to ask your co-operation in suppressing him and
request you to give your sons and dependents injunctions to have nothing to do
with him.
After seeing you I went on to Doha and Wakra, although you said your
son Abdullah was probably absent in the interior, to leave word with the people
of those places to the same effect. In spite of this, however, I now learn with
much surprise that he, Ahmed, has recently appeared without fear in Doha, and
that while your son Abdullah did not receive him or have anything to do
with him, nevertheless your relative Abdullah bin Ghanam received him and
harboured him. After hearing your expressions of friendliness and goodwill,
this news has much disappointed me, and I fear that my Government will be
vexed when the information reaches them.
Before they refer to me in the matter, I trust you will see fit to explain to
me the meaning of Addullah bin GhananPs conduct, and to inform me what
action you propose to take in the direction of punishing him. I have always
spoken well of you and your family to my Government. What advantage will
you derive from giving them cause to have a bad opinion of you and your sons
from their association with such notorious evil-doers as Ahmed bin Selman?
You are well aware from old time that the primary object of the British
Government is to maintain absolute peace and security on the sea, so that all
the natives of the littoral may trade without fear. If persons in the position
of yourself and your sons harbour and entertain the evil-doers, how can there
be peace ? Such conduct will bring trouble upon all.
I look forward to receiving an early reply from you and trust that the
answer will be such as to please me.
Forwarded through 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. , Bahrein, with Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. No. 2264,
dated 25th Septemher 1906.
No. 499 , dated Bahrein, the 16 th November 1906 .
From— Captain F. B. Prideaux, 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,
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.
With reference to your letter No. 2264, dated the 25th September 1906,
with which you enclosed a letter to be forwarded to Sheikh Jasim bin lhani on
the subject of the pirate Ahmed bin Selman’s surprise-visit to Doha, I have the
honour to enclose, with a translation, the reply which Sheikh Jasim has
transmitted to me for you.