"الخليج العربي - الولاية القضائية التركية على طول الساحل العربي (الجزء الثاني)" [و‎‎١‎٤‎٩] (٤٥/٥)

f Political Letter, No.
30, dated 5tli Feb. 1875,
Enclosure No. 10.
In a further letter, dated 19tb December 1874,f
pointing out the complete falsehood of the Turkish
version of the affray at Zobarah in the previous
August, Colonel Eoss observed " The portion of
u the Nairn tribe residing at Zobarah had not
" either avowed allegiance to Turkey nor been re-
" duced to subjection, so that it is impossible they
" could be in the position of revolted subjects. As
" regards Zobarah, that place has been hitherto
" considered by the Sheikhs of Bahiein, past and
" present, as a dependency of the island, and used
" as a summer residence. Without entering on the
" Bahrein claim, it is at least certain that the
Amongst preventive measures we have hitherto
counted on the assistance of the various local 4rab
Chieftains of the Guttur coast in preventing boats
)emg obtained or seized by marauding or piratically
inclined Arabs, such Chieftains being ffiven to
understand that they will be Wd responsible in
taese matiers for their immediate coast line.
ihe Chiefs in question, including those of El
aa, have always hitherto acknowledged their
lesponsibilities, and it has been customary to deal
with them all direct for such purposes, and to this
no demur has been made in any quarter.
• j " ^ is somewhat peculiarly
situated as regards its political status. The old
Chief, Mahomed bin Thanee, himself uses the Arab
flag, whilst his son, Jasim, has put himself under
1 uikish protection, and a guard of Turkish soldiers
is kept at Bidaa. It has not been declared, how
ever, as far as I can ascertain, that the Turkish
authorities have assumed the government of the
place. It is very probable they are not prepared to
assume responsibility for the maritime proceedings
of the Chiefs or people of Bidaa. At the same
time, Jasim bin Mahomed at all events, if not his
father, is prepared, if pressed, to evade direct re
sponsibility by pleading his being under Turkish
authority. It is therefore now, I think, a matter
for consideration whether the Turkish Government
should not be asked clearly for what portions of the
coast they undertake to be responsible."
To this the Government of India replied (21st
* Political Letter, No. October 1874):—*
Enclosure Xo' 1 ? 01,18 ' 4 ' " ^ le P resen ^ aspect of affairs it is not desirable
that you should have any communications with the
local Turkish officials regarding Bahrein, Any
necessary representations can, under present cir
cumstances, be made with more effect through Her
Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople under in
structions from the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs Interference in the affairs of Bahrein and
of the Arab Chiefs on the coast should, as far as
practicable, be limited to protecting the legitimate
interests of British subjects, maintaining our treaty
rights, and performing our treaty obligations. When
these are affected it will be proper to take steps to
put matters right; otherwise the less interference
you exercise the better."