File 2182/1913 Pt 2 'Persian Gulf Situation in El Katr Policy towards Bin Saud' [263r] (527/543)
The record is made up of 1 volume (269 folios). It was created in 18 Nov 1913-22 Nov 1916. It was written in English and French. 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
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momentarily successful rebel, and nothing can be offered to the Turks on behalf
of Bin Saud, so far as I can see, which would appear in their eyes at the present
moment an advantage worth purchasing by the concession to him of a single point.
There can be no doubt that the Turks hope and expect to drive Bin Saud out of
Hasa by force of arms ; if not now, then in the course of a few years. The best line
of action for them is undoubtedly to maintain their claim to Hasa as a province of
the Ottoman Empire and to postpone attempting to enforce it until they feel them
selves stronger,—a line which they will in all probability follow. As time passes,
however, if Bin Saud remains in adverse possession of Hasa, the Porte may become
disposed to negotiate with him, possibly with our assistance. Three-cornered
negotiations may then perhaps take place with some hope of a settlement accept
able to both parties being reached, but at present circumstances are not propitious.
7 . In short the most expedient course for His Majesty’s Government is, I j
venture to think, to take in hand at once, as indicated above, the questions which
seem capable of direct settlement between their Political representatives and Bin
Saud, at the same time informing Bin Saud that his position in Hasa is a question
in which they can only mediate between him and the Turks with the consent of
both parties, but that they will do their best to support him in this manner. In
fulfilment of this promise if authorised an effort might now be made to obtain, in
the words of Sir Percy Cox’s memorandum enclosed in his letter No. 4005-M., dated
2nd December, 1913 “ an undertaking from them {i.e., the Turks) not to take
hostile action by sea against the coast left in Bin Sand’s control without a previous
exchange of views with us.”
In making these recommendations, I do not lose sight of the fact that Bin Saud,
if left to himself, may conclude with the Turks some arrangement unfavourable
to British interests in Hasa ; but, should he do so, it will be open to His
Majesty’s Government to take such action as is required for vindicating the in
terests threatened.
No. T.-805, dated Bahrain, the 20th December 1913.
From— Major A. P. Trevor, C.I.E.,
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.
, Bahrain,
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 invite a reference to Sir Percy Cox’s letter No. 3669,
dated the 2 nd December 1913, instructing me to proceed to Ojair in company with
Captain Shakespear,
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.
at Kuwait, as soon as Bin Saud arrives on the
coast, and to interview him there ; in reply I beg to submit the following report of
our proceedings.
2 . As already reported in my diary I had heard (through Shaikh Isa) that Bin
Saud would arrive at Hasa about the middle of Moharram, so that when Captain
Shakespear arrived on the 7 th December, having been kindly given a passage on the
flagship by His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, I knew that there
would be some little delay.
3 . On the 12 th December a special messenger from Bin Saud arrived with
letters for Captain Shakespear and myself, explaining his delay in reaching the
coast and saying that he would be at Ojair on Monday, the 16th Moharram (15th
December 1913). I at once replied by the same messenger stating that Captain
Shakespear and myself were ready waiting in Bahrain and that we would start
for Ojair on the morning of Sunday, the l^tli December (15th Moharram) and if the ^
weather was favourable would reach there on the same night.
4 . Having obtained a “ boom ” through Abdullah al-Gasebi, Bin Saud’s agent
at Bahrain, I accordingly left Bahrain on the moruing of the 14th December, but,
owing to being becalmed for several hours en route, we only arrived outside the reef
off Oiair about midnight. The next morning (Monday, the 15th December) when
malang our way into the port a little before sunrise we saw Bin Saud’s camp
beincr pitched on the sand-hills about a mile east of the Custom-House and Serai
(the'only buildings or habitations of any description at Ojair), and gathered that
Bin Saud had already arrived. I landed with Captain Shakespear at about 8 a.m.,
and we were received by Bin Saud with great politeness on the shore outside the
About this item
- Content
This volume contains part 2 of the subject 'Persia Gulf'. It primarily concerns British policy towards Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] following the latter's occupation of Ottoman-ruled El Hassa [Al Hasa]. Included in the volume are the following:
- an account of a meeting between 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 Arthur Prescott Trevor), the Koweit [Kuwait] 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. (Captain William Henry Irvine Shakespear), and Bin Saud, which took place at Ojair [Al ‘Uqayr] in December 1913;
- discussion as to how the British will form a working understanding with Bin Saud whilst also pursuing a policy of supporting and maintaining the Turkish Empire;
- a recommendation from the officiating 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. , John Gordon Lorimer, that a British Native Agent Non-British agents affiliated with the British Government. be posted to Katif [Al Qaţīf] to mediate 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. in Bahrain and Bin Saud's local governors;
- discussion (between the Government of India, His Majesty's Ambassador to Constantinople, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) as to whether or not Britain should act as a mediator between the Ottoman government and Bin Saud, in order to ensure that any arrangement made between the two parties is not hostile to British interests;
- a proposal from the British India Steam Navigation Company to run a local line of steamers between Bahrein [Bahrain], Katif, Ojair, and Katr [Qatar];
- debate over whether a British decoration should be bestowed upon Sheikh Mubarak bin Sabah [Shaikh Mubarak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ] of Koweit prior to the Anglo-Turkish agreements being ratified, following reports that the Sheikh may be about to receive a Turkish decoration;
- Shakespear's account of further meetings with Bin Saud;
- reports of a settlement between the Turkish government and Bin Saud, and of Bin Saud's appointment as Vali of Nejd;
- a translated copy of the treaty between Bin Saud and the Turkish Government, dated 15 May 1914.
Correspondents include the following:
- Secretary to the Government of India's Foreign Department;
- 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, followed by John Gordon Lorimer, Captain Richard Lockington Birdwood, and Major Stuart George Knox as successive officiating residents);
- 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. , Bahrain (Major Arthur Prescott Trevor);
- 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, succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey);
- Viceroy of India (Charles Hardinge);
- Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey);
- Foreign Office;
- His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople (Sir Louis du Pan Mallet);
- Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India (Thomas William Holderness);
- Bin Saud;
- Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. [Ibrahim Hakki Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , in charge of negotiations with His Majesty's Government, concerning Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ].
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 (269 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 main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 271; 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 present in parallel between ff 6-270; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.
- Written in
- English and French in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/10/385
- Title
- File 2182/1913 Pt 2 'Persian Gulf Situation in El Katr Policy towards Bin Saud'
- Pages
- front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, 2r:70r, 71r:77r, 78r:86r, 87r:92v, 94r:270v, back-i
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence