File 3136/1914 Pt 1 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎52v] (113/672)

Enclosure No. 111.
MEMORANDUM.
I interviewed Sir Mubarak yesterday on the subject of Foreign Depart
ment telegram No. 594 S , dated 19th August. He says that he is with us, he
and his men, ships, and all that he has, that he will be victorious with us, be
defeated with us, or perish with us, as the ease may be. Nothing could be
stronger than his expressions of loyalty.
In regard to Um Qasr, Safwan and Bubian, he remarked that, though
he is at any time prepared to accept any arrangement Government may make
concerning these places, they really belong to him, and he would be very glad
to recover them from the Turks. He is of opinion that there would be no
difficulty in capturing the posts the garrisons would be replaced by his men y
and he considers it most unlikely that any attempt to retake them would be
made by Turkey. • . c* i
Sir Mubarak says that Bin Saud will act as recommended by him, and
after some discussion we came to the conclusion that the best course would be
to send a messenger to Bin Saud at once on the outbreak of war with letters
from the Sheikh and from me assuring him of deliverance from Turkish rule-
for the future. He would then shake off Turkish suzerainty and act as we
might direct.
I think this is all that can be done from here.
Sir Mubarak says that Basrah would gladly open its doors to a British
occupation, and that the Arab population will rise against the local Govern
ment on the first sign of hostile action on the part of Great Britain.
G. W. Grby.
22hd August 1914. /ia
Telegram, Nch 334 W.,. dated the 8th September 1914.
From—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political
Department, Simla,
To— Messus. Mackinnon, IMackenzie & Co., Calcutta, IVTanaging Agents, British
India Steam Navigation Company, Limited.
Resident, Bushire, reports that failure of steamers to proceed Mohammerah
is resented locally as it prevents owners of date gardens from getting rid of
crop.
If you see no objection to your steamers proceeding, perhaps you will
instruct your Gulf Agents accordingly, subject to auy advice they may receive
from Resident, Bushire. If any risk exists, the War Insurance Scheme would
seem to offer sufficient safeguard against it.
/¥-
Telegram P., No. 717 S., dated the 8th September 1914.
Prom—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Politipnl
Department, Simla, ° CaI
To—The Secretary to the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. , Political Department.
It is understood that Pir Seyyid Ibrahim of Baghdad, an individual who
commands a great deal of religious influence, has been, for some time, livin°-
in Bombay. The Government of India would be grateful for information as
to whether sojourn of Pir Seyyid Ibrahim has had any special significance and
whether his attitude and utterances have been and are of a friendly nature to
us or the reverse. Could Pir Seyyid Ibrahim be used for our purposes or
must he be regarded as a hostile element, in the event of complications with
Ottoman Government ?