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' [‎223v] (451/495)

No. 1043 , dated Bushire, the and (receive! 10 th) May 1909 (Confidential)
From—MAJOR P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., 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. ,
To— S. H. Butler, Esq., C.S.I., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India in
the Foreign Department.
The correspondence ending with my letter No. 626, dated 7th March 1909,
treated of the inclination of the Turkish authorities to repeat their former
attempts at interference at Wakra on the Katar Coast.
2 . In the communication of which I now have the honour to submit a copy,
Major Prideaux, while relating in one portion of it what passed in the above
connection at a visit which he has recently paid to Sheikh Jasim bin Thani at
Lusail, also reports the circumstances under which the Mudir of Ojair has
endeavoured to assert Turkish jurisdiction on the Island of Zaknuniyeh. It is in
the latter connection that I make the present reference.
3. Hitherto, ue have set our faces against any sort of recognition or tolera
tion of Turkish jurisdiction south of Ojair. (I beg that it may be particularly
noted at this point that the correct position of Ojair is as shown in Admiralty
Chart No. 2837-3.“ Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. general, Sheet II M , and not at the head of
Salwa Bay as indicated in certain official works and published atlases. It will be
seen from the Chart referred to that Zaknuniyeh is some 10 miles south of
Ojair).
4. The Bahreini Dowasir who frequent the island in the winter having
returned to Bahrein, it will remain uninhabited during the coming hot weather
months; it seems therefore unnecessary for me to move Government by telegraph,
but I trust that the Sheikh of Bahrein’s claim will be upheld, and the Porte
notified that the island belongs to that Sheikh and that we are prepared to
maintain his rights over it. I would also suggest that Sheikh Esa be advised to
fly his flag there during the winter and to employ a regular custodian to take
charge of it from among those of his Dowasir subjects, who annually migrate
there.
No. 207 , dated Bahrein, the 4 th April 1909 .
From—M ajor F. B. Prideaux, 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. ,
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 Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.
I have the honour to report that the Turkish Officials in Hasa, under their
present Mutasarrif, Mahir Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , are apparently making some effort to establish
their authority more securely in the rather vaguely defined district over which
they rule.
2. During the last week of February 1909, I heard that the Mudir of Ojair
had been corresponding with the Dowasir tribesmen who periodically visit
Zakhnuniya Island from Bahrein, with a view to getting them to admit their
allegiance to the Turkish throne. A week or two later the rumour reached
BalTrein that a Turkish salaried Kaimmakam had been despatched to Doha to
take over the Government of the town (or whole Katar Peninsula, perhaps, as
the Turks claim it) from Sheikh Jasim bin Thani and his deputy son, Abdallah
bin Jasim.
3. On the 8th March, I proceeded to Lusail, Sheikh Jasim’s headquarters,
in the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. launch, and on the 10th the old Chief rode in from the interior
to meet me. I also despatched a confidential reporter, who had accompanied
me from Bahrein, by name Yusuf bin Ahmad Kano, overland to Doha to collect
all the authentic news possible connected with the object of my visit.