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'TURKISH JURISDICTION IN THE ISLANDS AND WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AND ON THE ARAB LITTORAL' [‎112v] (10/28)

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. .

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( 10
revious correspondence on the subject, the
ollowing facts appear to be established :—
“ (1.) That the acts of piracy complained of
/ere committed by members of the A1 Morra
ribe, a tribe nominally dependent on the
’urkish Government.
“ (2.) That the pirates proceeded on their
expedition from ports belonging to the Chief
of Odeid.
“ (3.) That the Chief of Odeid in no way
countenanced or assisted the use of his ports
as a starting place for piratical expeditions.
“ (4.) That the reason why the Chief of
Odeid is weak is' that he and his followers are
a small colony of discontents who have seceded
from the main body of the great Beni-Yas
tribe of Abuthabi.
“ (5.) That the reason why the Chief of the
Beni-Yas tribe has not brought his refractory
colonists into order is, that he has been preven
ted from so doing by the British Government.
“ 3. Under the circumstances above set
forth it appears desirable that—
“ (1.) Endeavour be made to induce the
Turkish Government to take measures to res
train the piratical proceedings of the A1
Morra tribe; and
“ (2.) That measures be taken by ourselves
to prevent the ports of Odeid being used as a
rendezvous for pirates.
“4. In regard to the action proposed to be
taken through the Turkish Government, we
have to solicit the assistance of Your Lordship
and of the Secretary of State for Foreign Af
fairs ; in regard to the ports of Odeid it is clear
ly to the interest of the British Government,
as guardian of the place and protector against
outrage in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , that each of the
trucial tribes of the littoral should be strong
and undivided; while it appears but equitable
that the Government which prohibits the
Chief of Abuthabi from bringing his refractory
tribesmen into order should secure him their
submission and allegiance, either by peaceful, or,
if need be, by coercive measures. We have
therefore, in our letter No. 974P., dated 7th
May 1877, to the Resident of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
empowered that officer to use his best endeavours
to promote a reunion between the colonists at
Odeid and the main body of the Beni-Yas tribe,
and have further authorized him to afford as
sistance, if necessary, to the Trucial Chief of
Abuthabi in coercing the seceders. We trust
that the above instructions will meet with the
approval of Her Majesty^s Government.
“ b e G n mentioned as a possible source
of difficulty in procuring the submission of
the colonists of Odeid that their Chief, who
has been in communication with the Turkish
Government at Lahsa, may at the last mo
ment hoist the Turkish flag. But seeing that
the British Government has received no official
intimation on the subject, and that there is no
tangible evidence that the Chief of Odeid is
mder the effective suzerainty of the Turkish
> 0 vernment, we apprehend that the mere hoist-

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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' [‎112v] (10/28), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B126, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100036122271.0x00000b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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