'Question of British Consular Representation in El Hasa and Qatif' [‎64r] (1/2)

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CONFIDENTIAL.
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. ,
B. 406.
P. 5200/28.
Question of British Consular Representation in El Hasa
and Qatif.
1. The question is one which originally arose in 1904, when the Govern
ment of India, consequent on representations made during Lord Cuizon s q.. 0 f i. Desp. of
visit to the Gulf in 1903 by the British Indian merchants of Bahrein for the March hi iw*.
appointment of a British representative to protect their interests at Qatif
against the vexatious action of the local Furkish Customs officials, recom-
mended that 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 should be appointed Vice-Consul
for El Hasa, and that a native Consular Agent should be stationed at Qatif.
2. His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople expressed himself as * s of s tol . L to
opposed to the proposal on the ground of the interpretation which the a.of I., W 5 1904.
Turkish Government might place on it,* and, a satisfactory reply having
been received to the representations addressed by His Majesty’s Government
to the Sublime Porte in regard to the grievances of the Indian traders, out s. of s. for i. to g. of
of which the question arose, the matter dropped for the time being. ^ 1904.
3. There appear to have been no further developments until the
beginning of 1914, when, consequent on the occupation of Hasa by
Ibn Sand, the question of posting a native agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. without further delay to
Qatif was raised by the Government of India, who suggested that the mattei f roI:ri viceroy
was one in which advantage might 'be taken of the friendly attitude of Ibn to s. of s for
Sand. The Viceroy added that the posting of an agent “ will not only secure e • ' ‘ *
us desired foothold on this coast, but will enable us to render our good
offices to Turkish Government in dealing with Ibn Sand, should they require
them . . . and this might ex post facto be explained to Turkish Government.”
It was decided, however, in view of the general Turkish attitude, that the
proposal was one which it would be useless to put before the Sublime I orte,
since, however innocent might be the intentions of His Majesty s
Government in appointing a British Agent to Qatif, his despatch would be
intensely resented by the Turkish Government. I he Government of India Tel. from s. of s.
were accordingly informed that it was regarded as impossible to send a for !• to viceroy,
British Agent to Qatif pending negotiations. p. ioho/h.
4. The outbreak of the war led to the question being dropped and it
remained in abeyance until 1927. Consequent on the conclusion of the
Treaty of Jeddah, it was, however, revived in that year by Ibn Sand, who,
in a letter dated 12th October 1927 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 Gulf, Tei. from Poi. Hes.
took specific exception to the local practice hitherto in force under which ' ’
matters in dispute between Hasa and Bahrein had been settled by mutual
arrangements with the Governor of Hasa, parties in cases being called to
Bahrein to settle claims from the mainland and vice versa. The King of the
Hejaz expressed surprise at the action of 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. in asking that
a Qatifi should be sent to Bahrein, and requested that “international rules
should be adhered to.” >
5. In these circumstances Sir L. Haworth suggested that Ibn Sand
should be asked whether he saw objection to the appointment as British
Consul for Qatif and Ojair of 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. It would, he
thought, be necessary for the Consul to push claims against Hasa and visit
the port for that purpose. Sir L. Haworth explained that his proposal
was no more than that 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. should be Consul for Hasa
and Qatif, in the same way as His Majesty’s Government maintained the
Consul at Jeddah. In reply to a further enquiry by the Government
of India whether 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. in present circumstances ever visited
Hasa, and whether any danger would be involved in his doing so, the
Tel. from Col. Hes. to
C.O., April 17 1928.
P. 1!M)8.
3127
50 10.28