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to maintain a small military post there since 1872, and Her Majesty’s Govern
ment have never protested against this assertion of Turkish supremacy on
this portion of the El Katr coast.
5. Lord Cross thinks it may he sufficient for the present to acquaint Sir
W. White, if the Marquis of Salisbury sees no objection thereto, that Her
Majesty’s Government do not consider that the Porte is in effective occupation
of the Arabian coast beyond Katif, and that they adhere to the declaration made
in 1883 that the claim of the Porte to rights of sovereignty over the
El Katr coast is not admitted by Her Majesty’s Government. But as there
is no reason to anticipate that any practical result would be attained by
provoking a discussion with the Turkish Government as to the extent of its
jurisdiction on that coast, it is undesirable to raise the question at the present
time.
6. I am to add that, according to Eindlay’s “ Sailing Directory for the
Indian Ocean ” (p. 690), Pas Tanurah is the south point of a long strip of sand
with sand hills on its outer edge, which forms the north side of Katif Bay. No
objection could therefore apparently he offered to the formation of a coal dep6t
by the Turks at Pas Tanurah.
7. With regard to your inquiry as to the limits of the jurisdiction of the
Sultan of Muscat, 1 am desired to say that the coast line of Muscat territory
extends from Pas-el-Khymah up to and beyond Pas-el-Had towards Dhofar, in
The Imams and Seyyeds of Oman. Badger’s which dilCCtion it IS believed that 110
Translation (introduction, page 4 ). precise boundary exists. Westward, inland
Muscat may be said to stretch as far as the great Arabian desert.
No. 2416-E.
A copy of the foregoing is forwarded 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
From the Secretary, Political and Secret Depart. Gulf for information, in Continuation 0 £
ment, No. 258, dated the 2nd November 188S, and the endorsement from this office, No.
enclosures. 2119-E., dated the 31st October 1888.
By Order, &c.,
4 ^
Eoreign Dept.,
SHilliam;
The 18th December 1888.
(Sd.) W. H. CORNISH,
Asstt. Secretary to the Govt, of India,