File 2877/1914 'Persian Gulf and Mesopotamia: survey operations of RIMS Palinurus' [‎148v] (307/510)

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Tt would furthermore be necessary for the Ottoman Government to undertake
formal improver dues on British shipping or cargoes wUhout the assent
0f H S remains^qutstion of the terminal port: having regard to the fact that
important commercial interests are already established at Bussorah, His Majesty s
(^wnment cannot but feel that substantial advantages would accrue from the
establishment of the terminus at that point; and they consider that the port should
be constructed and controlled by the proposed new company m the interests of the
unrestricted (Ximmerce of all nations. But if such an arrangement is adopted, they
miist stipulate that, in the event of the railway ever being prolonged to the Persian
rulf it must be brought to Koweit under conditions to be settled by agreement
between Great Britain and Turkey alone, and a clause to this effect must be embodied
in a convention dealing with these matters.
(a.) The respective Interests of Great Britain and Turkey in the Region of the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
His Maiesty’s Government are willing to meet the wish expressed in the concluding
paragraphs of the Turkish memorandum that a precise definition may be reached as
to the respective position of the two countries, commercially and politically, m the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and they see no reason why a lasting settlement of the questions
involved should not be reached. His Majesty’s Government are m no- sense opposed
to the legitimate claims of the Turkish Government. 1 he most southeily point to
Avhich they have ever recognised such claims on the littoral of the Persian
Oieir n the district of El Katif. South of this point there is no trace of Turkish
power ever having been paramount; in 1870 the Ottoman Minister or Foreign
Affairs conveyed to Her Majesty’s Ambassador formal assurances that the Sublime
Porte did not entertain any intention of obtaining supremacy oyer Ba^ein; Muscat
or the independent tribes on the coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and it is °^y 8™“ ‘ha
date that certain attempts have been made by the Ottoman Government to estab
mudirates and other emblems of Turkish authority at points to the south . y®"’,
The position of His Majesty’s Government m regard to these tubes has bee
entirely different. With Bahrein they have had direct relations since ] 80o, t
relations have found concrete expression in a series of treaties dating from 1
having as their objects the suppression of piracy and the slave trade , the
of the succession to the throne ; the protection of the island against oieign >
and the safety of the pearl industry, of which Bahrein is the centre. n
and the territories of the Trucial Chiefs His. Majesty s Government have, to virtue
of various treaties and agreements, conferred similar benefits tor many yeai ,
their policy in each case has been inspired by the importance of upholding
maritime peace, of securing open markets to the commerce o a conn lies,
of protecting the long-established interests of British-Indian subjects.
His Maiesty’s Government cannot acquiesce in any arrangement wHicn mig
restrict or*'undermine the authority which they have exercised ;
with such beneficent results ; they conceive that any extension of lurkish junsaiciio
along the littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the south of Ojeir would be prejudicial to
those results and unsupported by any legitimate claims of Turkish sovereignty,
they have accordingly resisted any attempts which have been made to encnoac P
these regions. They are therefore of opinion that any lasting settlemen n _
the two Powers must provide for the definite renunciation by the Ottoman
ment of Bahrein and adjacent islands and of the whole of the Peninsula o
(including El Bidaa), where the Sheikh of Bahrein has important rights; ana tne>
consider that such a settlement would finally remove a perennial somce o
The Ottoman Government express a wish to regularise the relations of ^vcit
towards the Ottoman Empire, and His Majesty’s Government will glad y con
to such a solution, on the understanding that their rights and claims are no
regarded as prejudiced by any proposals which may now be put forward, s ou
proposals prove abortive. . , ^ lipver
As the Ottoman Government are aware, His Majesty s Government nce
admitted that Koweit is under Turkish protection, and, inasmuch as some ® a
of opinion was manifested between the two Governments as to the P osl 10 n
modus vivendi was reached in September 1901 by His Majesty’s Governmen
ing to give an assurance that, provided the Turkish Governmen a