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' [98v] (201/495)
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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
v
4
desirous that a treaty should be made in anticipation of the death of Sheikh
Jasim. An opportunity of making such a treaty arose last year, when the
Turks disturbed the status quo by appointing officials to various places on
the coast, and when the Government of India proposed that a treaty should
be entered into with Sheikh Ahmed on the lines of our treaties with Bahrein
and the Trucial Chiefs, by which he would be debarred from dealings with
Foreign Powers, and from parting with territory to others than the British
Government. The Turks, however, withdrew their interloping officials in
deference to our remonstrances; and the Government of India were
instructed to report whether the objects to be gained by a treaty Avere of
such urgent importance as to justify immediate action in spite of the diffi
culties Avhich such action would create witli the Turks. The Government of
India replied, in their telegram of the 30th December, by proposing the
immediate conclusion with Sheikh Ahmed of a treaty similar to that of 1868,
which Avould bind him to take no hostile action by sea, and to refer all
disputes to the Besident in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.
The reasons in favour of the immediate conclusion of a treaty are—-
(1.) The Katr coast, lying as it does between Bahrein and the Pirate
coast, constitutes a break in the continuity of our maritime
influence.
(2.) The absence of a treaty may hinder His Majesty’s ships in the work
of suppressing piracy and maintaining the peace of the Gulf.
In this connection it may be observed that the objection to the
extension of Turkish authority in those regions is that the Turks
cannot establisli a strong administration, and 1 that their attempt
to rule El Katr might only end in anarchy. Bahrein, as the
centre of the pearl fisheries, attracts pirates.
"(3.) The absence of a treaty considerably increases the difficulty of
making arrangements to protect the pearl fisheries from outside
interference which has been threatened by certain Frenchmen
settled in Bahrein. The question of what powers Ave possess in
this respect under our existing treaties Avith the local Sheikhs is
under the consideration of the Law Officers of the CroAvn.
(4.)' The absence of a treaty may encourage the Turks to set up a riA'at
Sheikh to Sheikh Ahmed on the death of Sheikh Jasim. In this
connection it may be observed that Sheikh Ahmed and the Arabs
of El Katr are Wahabis, and presumably sympathise Avith Ibn
Saoud in his attack on Turkish authority in the interior. It
is thus of importance to them that the new Sheikh should be on
their side against Ibn Saoud.
From tbe point of view of the Government of India, the balance of
advantage seems to lie on the side of a treaty with Sheikh Ahmed; and it
has been suggested that, as any treaty with him Avill raise a difficulty Avith
the Turks, if there is to be a treaty, it should be on the lines of those with
the Trucial Chiefs.
On the other hand, if Ave make a treaty it will be incumbent on us to
support Sheikh Ahmed if, on the death of Sheikh Jasim, he becomes
embroiled with the Turks, and a fresh chapter of difficulties with the Porte
may be opened. To leave the situation in El Katr to work itself out
Avithout interference on our part, even though the ultimate result may be
the restoration of a nominal Turkish sovereignty, would not be inconsistent
with the policy laid down in Lord Lansdowne’s Minute of 21st March 19D2,
as to the position at Koweit. Lord Lansdowne stated that the “ bed rock ”
of our policy in the Gulf is that “ Avhile AA r e do not grudge a debouche for
“ international commerce in the Gulf, and have no wish to make it into a
British lake, we should resist to the utmost all attempts by other PoAvers
“ to obtain a foothold on its shores for naval or military purposes ....
i( shall pursue that policy not in virtue of ambiguous understandings
Avith local Chiefs, but as the predominant Power in Southern Persia and
“ the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
.”
30th January 1905.
B. Bitchie.
About this item
- 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 View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/162
- Title
- 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'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:45v, 47r:245r, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence