File 2182/1913 Pt 3 'Persian Gulf Katr Treaty' [116r] (242/254)
The record is made up of 1 volume (122 folios). It was created in 22 Jun 1913-11 Sep 1918. 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.
FOREIGN SECRET TELEGRAMS.
Secret Department.
From Viceroy, \lth September 1913.
Foreign Secret. My telegram of 13th August. El Katr. Cox who
recently visited A1 Bida and informed Sheikh that arrangements were
being made for withdrawal of Turkish garrison reports as follows :—
“ Sheikh had already read in newspapers report of conclusion of Con
vention and intention to withdraw Turkish garrison but Turkish gunboat
had recently arrived with some months’ rations for garrison and Captain
assured him that there was no truth whatever in the statement regarding
their withdrawal. I therefore gave him intimation in writing.
“ According to his account his position as regards Bin Sand is as
follows. On Jasim’s death Bin Sand wrote to Abdullah asking him to
come and see him and saying if friendship was to be maintained he must
get rid of Turkish garrison. Abdullah replied that garrison was quite
innocuous and that it would only hostilise Turkish Government to expel
them, but that he undertook neither to allow garrison to be increased
nor Turks to use Katr as abase. As regards visit to Bin Sand he made
excuse of his father’s death for postponing it. He continued that his elder
half-brother, Khalifah, had visited Bin Sand and professed to have spoken
in same sense, but Abdullah could not be absolutely sure of him. In any
case Abdullah said that if Bin Sand seriously intended to occupy Katr he
doubted whether they could keep him out even if he and his brothers were
all united. He thought a warning from us might perhaps keep him away
from A1 Bida but would not prevent him from engineering Bedouin raids
into Katr.
“ He said he appreciated recognition of independence now accorded, and
was in any case ready to co-operate in the matter of arms traffic, provided we
would give him facilities for supplying his own legitimate needs, but apart
from that he hoped we would not be in a hurry to press on him alterations
in conditions at present existing. The fact is that between Bin Sand and
the Turks and ourselves he does not quite know where he is.”
In the circumstances it is clearly desirable to avoid haste and to defer
action as regards treaties for the present. Delay in the matter will also
accord with wish of Foreign Office that an interval should be allowed to
elapse between publication of Anglo-Turkish agreements and conclusion of
treaty with Sheikh. When Sheikh’s position is assured, our relations with
Bin Saud defined, and El Katr affairs have had time to settle, we are of
opinion that suitable opportunity might be taken .to conclude treaty generally
on lines sketched by Cox in his letter No. 1963, dated 22nd June, copy
forwarded with Foreign Secretary’s letter, 30 M. 24th July. In return for
assurances of our protection by sea and good offices in case of unprovoked
attack by land, Sheikh should be required to receive British Agent, to
co-operate in suppression of arms traffic, and to engage not to enter into
relations with, receive representative of, or cede territory to any other Power
than British, or to grant concessions or monopolies or right to land sea cables
without our consent. As regards maritime, trucial, and slave trade, agree
ment should resemble substantially those entered into with Trucial Chiefs.
Remaining desiderata mentioned by Cox could be secured later.
About this item
- Content
This volume contains part 3 of the subject 'Persia Gulf'. It concerns a treaty between Britain and El Katr (also spelled Katar in the file) [Qatar].
In a copy of a telegram to the Secretary of State for India, dated 13 August 1913, the Viceroy of India acknowledges the former's wish to negotiate a treaty as soon as Britain's convention with the Turkish government comes into force [the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913, which was never ratified]. However, the Viceroy suggests that, following the recent death of Shaikh Jasim [Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī, Ruler of Qatar], any action should be deferred until his successor, Shaikh Abdullah [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī], has established himself as ruler.
The volume contains the following:
- a draft agreement between the British Government and Shaikh Abdullah;
- British officials' views on the perceived attitude adopted by Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] towards the British authorities and British interests, following his recent settlement with the Turkish government;
- discussion on the importance of concluding negotiations with Bin Saud prior to completing a treaty with El Katr;
- the ejection of the Turkish garrison from El Katr;
- discussion as to whether to retain an arms traffic clause in the draft agreement, following the near collapse of arms traffic during the first year of the First World War;
- an account of treaty negotiations between 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 (Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey, accompanied by the Bahrain 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. Major Terence Humphrey Keyes) and Shaikh Abdullah;
- a copy of the final treaty, signed on 3 November 1916 and ratified on 23 March 1918.
The volume features the following principal correspondents:
- 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 Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, and Major Stuart George Knox, officiating Resident in Cox's absence);
- Viceroy of India [Charles Hardinge; Frederic John Napier Thesiger];
- Secretary of State for India (Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe; Joseph Austen Chamberlain; Edwin Samuel Montagu);
- Foreign Office;
- Secretary to the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department [Alfred Hamilton Grant];
- 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 (Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey).
The part includes a divider that gives the subject and part number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in the part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (122 folios)
- Arrangement
The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume.
The subject 2182 (Persia Gulf) consists of 8 volumes: IOR/L/PS/10/384-391. The volumes are divided into 12 parts with part 1 comprising the first volume, part 2 comprising the second volume, part 3 comprising the third volume, parts 4-5 comprising the fourth volume, part 6 comprising the fifth volume, parts 7-8 comprising the sixth volume, parts 9-10 comprising the seventh volume, and parts 11-12 comprising the eighth volume.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 121; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, 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 one leading flyleaf.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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File 2182/1913 Pt 3 'Persian Gulf Katr Treaty' [116r] (242/254), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/386, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100034219108.0x00002b> [accessed 4 June 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/386
- Title
- File 2182/1913 Pt 3 'Persian Gulf Katr Treaty'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:i-v, 1r:14v, 16r:27r, 30r:55v, 57r:64v, 67r:78v, 79ar:79av, 79r:98v, 100r:121v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence
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