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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' [‎125v] (255/495)

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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Pirates recognised and identified by sheikh’s representative at Kasbat-al-Nassar,
Three of them reported to be refugee sheikhs of Kasbat-al-Nassar who live at Koweit.
They were at once surrendered on demand to the Sheikh ot Mohammerah by Mubarak,
and imprisoned. The remainder came from Maamar-ud-Daura, near Fao on th
Turkish side. Application was made to the vali in the matter by the sheikh. A lis
giving the names of them all was also furnished to the vali. He sent down police who,
according to my information, were told by the headman of Daura, one Bin Naghaim, a
Turkish subject, that he would consent to no enquiry or search, and if any attempt to
do so were made it would be resisted by force. The Turkish police went away without
doing anything. .
The vali a few days after wrote to the sheikh that, after careful enquiry, it had
been found that the persons mentioned in his list were not guilty of complicity in the
piracy, and that Bin Naghaim had furthermore expressed his willingness to point
out the real culprits, who lived in Mohammerah. Sheikh Khazal replied asking for Bin
Naghaim to be sent for to Bussorah, where he might make good his words.
He has heard no more about it since, as Bin Naghaim is not the least likely to
come to Bussorah. Pirates, moreover, do not choose Mohammerah as their residence.
I may add that the information regarding the guilt of men in Daura was quite
independently obtained by Shakespear from Mubarak, who said that one of his men
had witnessed the division of the spoils.
The vali has done nothing whatever to arrest or make enquiry into this matter,
though asked to do so more than once. Apparently he has been fooled in this case, as
in the Zain case, by his police. In the Zain case they made him believe his authority
as being flouted. In this case, when it is openly defied, they assure him that “ careful
enquiry ” has been made, &c.
The third piracy on record is that of the 29th June.
A Koweit boom, Nakhuda Salih-al-Hajri. The whole crew were murdered, eight
men in all, the boom looted and scuttled. This took place on the high seas south of
Koweit. The pirates were nine in number. All came from Saniyah, or Katah, in the
Dawasir district, Turkish territory, except one man of Kasbat-al-Nassar, who has been
arrested and imprisoned by the sheikh. The vali was asked by Sheikh Khazal
unofficially to arrest the men in Dawasir, of whom the sheikh showed a list. I am
informed the vali declined to take any steps in the matter owing to the lack of legal
proof, or some excuse of the sort. He, however, claimed that the man arrested by the
sheikh in Kasbat-al-Nassar was a Turkish subject, and wanted Sheikh-al-Khazal to
release him, which he very properly declined to do. The man’s father and mother are
living in Kasbat-al-Nassar, and he is, I have no doubt, a Persian subject.
As regards concerted measures for the prevention of piracy, the vali and^ the
sheikh have made some arrangement for patrolling the river Avith bellams containing
representatives of either side, but the vali’s attitude in the proved cases of piracy
which have been referred to him has been so disappointing, doubtless on account of
his political obsessions, that the sheikh is not very hopeful as to the result of concerted
action. I am inclined to share the sheikh’s pessimism. The pirates are well aware that
their names are known to the Turks. They see that no action of any kind is being
taken against them by the vali, though anyone who happens to be a Persian subject
has been promptly arrested. They will no doubt become bolder later on.
Yours sincerely,
A. T. WILSON.

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
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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' [‎125v] (255/495), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/162, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030529667.0x000038> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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