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]’ [‎154r] (303/358)

To
* Enclosure, Sir Nicoles O’Conor to the Marquess
of Lansdowne, No. 833, dated the loth December
1903.
arrested. It is, however, worthy
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.
FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
SECRET.
External.
The Right Hon’hle St. JOHN BRODRICK,
Ifis Majesty* s Secretary of State for India.
I ort IV illiam, the 8 th December 1V01.
Sir,
We have the honour to refer to the correspondence ending with vour
Secret telegram, dated the r 8 th September 3904, regarding the recent acts oJ
piracy committed in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. near Katif by Ahmfd-bin-Selman
.. 2> T, he detailed in the annexed schedule are forwarded for inform-
ation. R will be observed that, in October 1901, 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. Tn
the Persian GuU reported the occurrence of piracies off the Arabian Coast
and that members of the Beni Hajir tribe, residing in the El Katr Peninsula
were held to have been concerned in at least one of the four eases mentioned
in letter No. 187, dated Hth October 1901, from Lieutenant-Colonel Kemball
In September 1902, that officer drew attention to the recrudescence of acts of
piracy in the vicimty of El Katr and Bahrein, committed by a party of the
same tribe under the leadership of one Ahmad-bin-Selman, a notorious wt
character. Endeavours were made to secure steps being taken by the Turkish
officials towards the arrest of Ahmad-bin-Selman. These endeavours resulted
m a communication,* dated 15th
December 1903, from the Sublime Porte
stating that the pirate had left foi-
Koweit, and could not consequently be
« * ,1 4 V Vr* ° f note that ’ in October 1902, it" was
reported that he had thrown himself on the mercy of the Mutessarif of A 1
Hassa, to whom he is stated to have personally handed two pearls, and who
promised him pardon on condition that he divulged the names of his accom-
phcesS and that the latter gave up their share of the plunder. The statement
that he had left for Koweit was further refuted by Mr. Gaskin, Assistant
o Rical Agent, Balirein, in August 1903. The recent cases of piracy committed
y Ahmad-bin-Selman go to show that Mr. Gaskin made a correct statement
when he reported that the pirate had evidently been advised to keep out of the
way : the fact being that he is not arrested by the Turkish authorities, because
they hope that as a cousin and subject of Shaikh Isa, Chief of Bahrein, who has
sub^ectsf ^ ^ 16 k® w ill prove a thorn in the side of that Chief’s
i v 3 ' p P^P® 8 ® reviewing the more recent cases of piracy in the neighbour-
°f ! ^ a l irem J an d the El Katr Peninsula, which have for Ion 11 * been
subjected to piratical depredations. Iu the year 18S7, no fewer than° seven
serious piracies occurred between the months of July and October. These were
reported in our despatch No. 59, dated the 17th April 1888. Of late years—
there have been no such outbreaks as this, hut the evil still continues. In
lojy, tour cases were reported. In 1900 there were five more cases. In 1901
there appears to have been complete immunity. In 1902 four distinct acts of
piracy were committed by one gang under the leadership of Ahmad-bin-
oelman, while in 1903 he again appeared in the vicinity of Katif, but, beyond
an unsuccessful attempt upon a Bahrein dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. in the vicinity of the marl
banks off the Katr coast, no act of piracy was reported.