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'TURKISH JURISDICTION IN THE ISLANDS AND WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AND ON THE ARAB LITTORAL' [108v] (2/28)
The record is made up of 1 file (14 folios). It was created in 7 Apr 1879. 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.
( 2 )
the status of Odeid should, if possible,
be avoided. The reason why the Gov
ernment of India have been as yet un
able to inform the Secretary of State of
their views on this mitter, is that Colonel
Uoss’s original report of the proceedings
at Odeid miscarried, and by the time a
duplicate had been obtained, the other
despatches from the Secretary of State,
cited in paragraph 1, were received.
These raised the larger question of
Turkish j urisdiction over the entire Arab
littoral, and necessitated further inquir
ies from the local officers.
3. The history of the connection of
the British Government wich Odeid is as
follows. The Chief of Abuthabi of the
tribe of Beni-Yas is one of the maritime
Arab Chiefs on the shore of the Persian
Gulf with whom the British Govern
ment have relations. In 1836, the Ei-
Kabizat (or Gubeysat), a section of the
Beni-Yas, under Sheik Khadim-bin-
Nahman, being desirous of avoiding
the consequences of certain recent pira
cies, seceded from Abuthabi and estab
lished themselves at Odeid. In May
1837, the Chief of Abuthabi, Sheikh
Khalifa, attacked the seceders, killed
fifty and destroyed the settlement. But
the leniency and moderation with which
he used his victory induced the sece
ders to return to Abuthabi. In 1849,
there was a fresh secession, followed
by a second compulsory return; at
length, in 1869, a party under Sheikh
Buttye-bin-Khadim again settled at
Odeid, and repudiated their allegiance to
the parent State.
-n n’ S* 1 ^ ■^■ arc ^ 1 1871- Colonel Political A., March 1872, No. 369.
Belly, then British Resident at Bushire,
addressed the Bombay Government on
the subject of a complaint made some
months previously by the Chief of Abu
thabi regarding the recent settlement
at Odeid in his territories. The Chief
observed that this settlement was in
many ways inconvenient to him, detract
ing severely from the prosperity of his
principal township, andaffording refuge
to persons evading their creditors, &c. 0
Colonel Pelly being uncertain whe
ther Odeid did really belong to Abu
thabi, and being desirous further of
ascertaining whether the Chief’s appre
hensions were well founded, directed
his Assistant, Major Smith, when visit
ing the Arab Coast, to inquire into
the matter.
• The conclusion arrived at by this offi
cer was that Odeid did belong to
About this item
- Content
Memorandum written by Trevor John Chicheley Plowden, Under Secretary to the Foreign Department, Government of India, 21 Mar 1879, and published 25 March 1879 in Lahore by the Punjab Government.
The memorandum addresses the question of Turkish jurisdiction in the islands and waters of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and on the Arab littoral, looking at the entire southern coast from Koweit [Kuwait] to Ras-el-Had [Ra’s al-Hadd], but focusing primarily on the Arab coast and islands from Ras Tanorah [Ra's Tannūrah] to Ras Mussendom [Ra’s Musandam], including El-Bidaa [al-Bida], Bahrein [Bahrain], Zobara [Zubārah], El-Katr [Qatar] and the territories of the Arab Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. chiefs.
The memorandum commences with a brief history of events at Odeid [Al ‘Udayd] in the 1800s, and the uncertainty in the 1870s over whether or not it was part of the territory of the Chief of Abuthabi [Abu Dhabi] or was an independent territory, and also discusses attempts by the Chief of El-Katr to persuade the Chief at Odeid, Shaikh Buttye to hoist a Turkish flag, which he refused.
The memorandum, which cites correspondence from 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. (Colonel Lewis Pelly, Colonel Edward Charles Ross), goes on to consider the Turkish authorities in Nejd [Najd] and their interests in Abuthabi and Debaye [Dubai]; further claims of Turkish interest in Odeid, including in 1877 claims that the inhabitants of Odeid were paying a tribute to the Turks through the Chief of El-Bidaa; and correspondence with the Turkish Government regarding an increase in piracy along the El-Katr coast.
The memorandum focuses particularly on events in Odeid from 1877 onwards, including attempts to mediate a settlement between Abuthabi and Odeid; British intentions to support Abuthabi should a settlement not be mediated; vessels belonging to the Chief of Odeid having attacked vessels from Wukra [al Wakrah], breaching the maritime peace. The memorandum then reverts to the original questions relating to Turkish jurisdiction and concludes that Odeid is not a part of El-Katr territory, and is part of Abuthabi territory and is therefore answerable to the Chief of Abuthabi.
The memorandum then reverts to the larger question of Turkish jurisdiction and considers the area from Ojair [al-‘Uqayr] to El-Bidaa and noting that they were not considered to be responsible for that area, but could have reasonable claim to do so should they wish; it also discusses the possibility of negotiating a line of demarcation to show where Turkish jurisdiction ends and British jurisdiction commences and the need for the British Government to reserve the right to suppress maritime irregularities at sea. The memorandum concludes by considering whether the question of a line of demarcation should be put to the Secretary of State for India; how to ensure that Bahrein [Bahrain] is recognised as independent of all Governments except Great Britain; and what impact such an agreement might have on Persia.
Accompanying the memorandum is a note written by Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall, Secretary to the Foreign Department, Government of India, 7 April 1879 which supports the proposals outlined within it.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (14 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 108 and terminates at folio 121, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in the top-right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio; these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled.
Pagination: This section of the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
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'TURKISH JURISDICTION IN THE ISLANDS AND WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AND ON THE ARAB LITTORAL' [108v] (2/28), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B126, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036122271.0x000003> [accessed 18 July 2026]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B126
- Title
- 'TURKISH JURISDICTION IN THE ISLANDS AND WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AND ON THE ARAB LITTORAL'
- Pages
- 108r:121v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence