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File 757/1909 'Persian Gulf:- Turkey and Turkish aggression (Occupation of Zakhnuniyeh Island. Attitude in piracy cases. Mudirs at Zubara, Odaid and Wakra) British Relations with Turkey in Persian Gulf' [‎96r] (196/495)

The record is made up of 1 volume (245 folios). It was created in 1909-1911. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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true that the employment of Indian troops in the naval blockade has
not been regarded as covered by the Act. But that can hardly be
described as a military operation, whereas the ejection of Turkish
garrisons could hardly be described otherwise. That, however, is perhaps
■a detail, since Parliamentary discussion might be inevitable in any case.
As regard;* the local situation, Colonel Cox’s views are borne out by recent
reports. The Consul-General at Bagdad has more than once called attention
to the military weakness of the Province. In the August Summary (page 14)
he noted that after denuding a large part of the country of troops Nazim
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had only been able to concentrate some 3,000 men at Bagdad, a
number not more than a sufficient garrison for the capital. In order to effect
this concentration the forces in Hasa have lately been considerably reduced ;
in July 570 men were withdrawn (140 from El Bidaa), and 200 more were to
follow. These were not to be replaced, but in cases of emergency troops
would be sent from Basra (letter from 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, 24th July
1910, S. 1317/10), the garrison of which the Consul-General, Bagdad, put at
one battalion (September Summary, page 5). There remained 70 infantry (to
be raised to 100 probably), 40 police, and 6 guns at Katif; 60 infantry and
4 guns at El Bidaa ; 50 infantry and 2 guns at Ujair; and about 600 infantry,
35 cavalry, 130 police, and 12 guns at Hofuf (the capital of Hasa, 40 miles
inland from Ujair).
It remains to consider the question of a treaty with the Katr Sheikh on
its merits. Arguments in favour of it are given on page 4 of Sir R. Ritchie’s B !&J
memorandum of 30th January 1905. Since that date the case for a treaty v
has become somewhat stronger. For example, the Katr peninsula is the only
part of the coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. on which the arms traffic is not pro
hibited, and it tends to be a dumping ground in consequence ; thus we heard
on 5th December that a dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. under French colours had left Muscat in that
direction. If we had a treaty our chain of defences would be complete.
Again, with regard to the pearl fisheries, the Law Officers in answering
the reference made to them had no doubt as to the rights of the tribes
in such waters as may justly be considered territorial. Outside these
they were inclined to hold that the exclusive rights of the tribes might be
maintained to banks in regard to which their exclusive possession is capable
of historical proof ; but they considered that the point was not free from
doubt. And as regards the deeper waters they were of opinion that there
would be no reasonable chance of asserting with success the right of the
tribes to debar other nations from dredging. In these circumstances, the
Secretary of State agreed with the general conclusion of the Law Officers,
viz., that it was not expedient to raise the question internationally by forcibly
preventing vessels of foreign nationalties from fishing on the banks. And
he added, “The object in view may probably be attainable by indirect
methods.” (Secret Despatch No. 8, of 31st March 1905.) These indirect
methods, which would consist mainly in putting difficulties in the way of
interlopers, could probably only be successfully employed if our position
vis-a-vis of the tribes were such as would be secured to us by the proposed
treaties.
With regard to the terms of such treaties, it has been suggested that they
should follow the lines of the 1892 agreements with the Trucial Chiefs.
These provide (1) that the Chiefs will on no account enter into any agreement
or correspondence with any power other than the British Government; (2)
that without the assent of the British Government they will not consent to
the residence within their territory of the Agent of any other Government;
j(3) that they will on no account cede, sell, mortgage or otherwise give for
occupation, any part of their territory, save to the British Government.
CONCLUSIONS.
“ Achievement of above measures would completely consolidate our position
on Arab coast and in Gidf generally, especially in regard to pearl
fishery question, and, if it is ever to be brought about, it seems
essential that action should be taken now. If it is delayed, the
suggested association of Turkey with Triple Alliance and increase

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Content

The volume comprises telegrams, despatches, correspondence, memoranda, and notes, relating to the Turkish occupation of Zakhnuniyah Island, the Ottoman attitude towards piracy cases, and the appointment of officials in Zubara, Odeid and Wakra.

The discussion in the volume relates to the Turkish occupation of a disused fort (built by Shaikh Ali bin Khalifah, Ruler of Bahrain) on Zakhnuniyah Island and the placing of Ottoman officials in Zubara, Odeid and Wakra. Correspondence reflects British concerns over Turkish claims to sovereignty in the coastal area of the Qatar Peninsula and how these could best be resisted, particularly in the strategic context of the construction of the Berlin to Baghdad railway. In discussing Zakhnuniyah, reference is made to typed extract of the relevant page (1937) of Lorimer's Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Gazetteer (Geographical and Statistical Volume) which describes how the Dawasir tribe halted there, during the course of their emigration from Najd (see folio 236).

Further discussion surrounds Turkish obstruction of the investigation of cases of piracy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and the proposed visit of H M S Redbreast to Al Bidaa.

Included in the volume are copies of the Committee for Imperial Defence papers 'Turkish Agression in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. " and 'Local Action in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ' (ff 12-15).

The principal correspondents in the volume include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey); the Viceroy of India; the ruler of Bahrain; 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. , Kuwait (Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear); the British Ambassador to Constantinople; His Britannic Majesty's Acting Consul for Arabistan (Lieutenant Arnold Talbot Wilson); 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. (Lieutenant-Colonel Percy Zachariah Cox); the Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.

Extent and format
1 volume (245 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.

The subject 757 ( Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Turkish Aggression) consists of 1 volume IOR/L/PS/10/162.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 241; these numbers are written in pencil and are located at the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the two leading and ending flyleaves.

A flap is pasted to the verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of folio 188.

Written in
English in Latin script
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File 757/1909 'Persian Gulf:- Turkey and Turkish aggression (Occupation of Zakhnuniyeh Island. Attitude in piracy cases. Mudirs at Zubara, Odaid and Wakra) British Relations with Turkey in Persian Gulf' [‎96r] (196/495), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/162, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030529666.0x0000c5> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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