File 160/1903 'Persian Gulf: El Katr; appointment of Turkish Mudirs; question of Protectorate Treaty with El Katr' [‎60r] (124/860)

relations with those in power are quite cordial, while their professions of friendship for
Great Britain are frequent and, I have no doubt, genuine ; but I feel that this should
not blind us to the main trend of Young Turkey aspirations, and to the likelihood that
the prosecution of their national programme will bring British and Ottoman real or
fancied interests into conflict in several parts of the Arab world, and perhaps, especially,
in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . Hussein Jahid Bey, deputy for Constantinople,
the “ fidus Achates ” of Djavid Bey, the Minister of Finance, and the spokesman of the
committee in the “Tanin,” has recently told us in a couple of signed articles that
Young Turkey must strain every nerve to increase her land and naval forces, and that
when the Minister of War can dispose of 1,500,000 bayonets, and the Minister of
Marine of a considerable naval force, Turkey’s Minister for Foreign Affairs will be
considered as one of the greatest of European statesmen, and Turkey will then “wreak
vengeance on those who do not now treat her with proper regard. Some officers in
high positions have been heard indulging in similar outbursts, and an aide-de-camp of
the Minister of War recently declared to an Englishman here that Turkey would, if put
to it, light the Islamic torch from Calcutta to Morocco. _ These and other such
expressions of a crescentade spirit need not be taken too literally, but they cannot
be entirely ignored, as they are indicative of strong undercurrents.
In this connection, I have the honour to enclose copies of three articles vdiich have
recently appeared in the “ Jeune Turc,” a committee-inspired paper, which, like the
“ Neue Freie Presse ” of Vienna, is financed and directed by Jews. The latter’s detes
tation of Russia, which is one of the features of Young Turkey, is frequently reflected
in its columns, and in one of the enclosed articles A. A. Ahmed Agaie , a
Mussulman from the Crimea) represents English statesmen as having of repent years
adopted a policy inconsistent with British traditions by concluding certain ententes
alludino- to the Anglo-Russian entente. The articles inveigh against what they
erroneously call the Triple Entente, and try to make Young Turkey incline towards the
Triple Alliance.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Consul Crow to Sir G. Lowther.
Bussorah, July 1, 1910.
WITH reference to your Excellency’s despatch of the 29th January last on the
subject of the island of Zakhmmiyeh, I have the honour to transmit herewith copy ol a
letter and enclosure received from the British resident at Bushire.
I have not had occasion to discuss this question with the present V all buieyman
Nazif Bey but I understand Suad Bey, the Mutessarif of Hassa, wno has on two
occasions acted for the vali here during the latter’s absence and who is still m
Bussorah, favours the occupation of the island m question, and I shouldjudge he had
taken steps to replace the guard as reported by Major Trevor on the 26th December
1909, vide enclosure in my despatch No. 3 of the 8th January, 1910, and thus to upse
the arrangement made by the previous vali for withdrawing the gendarmes as report
in my telegram No. 69 of the 25th September, 1909. ^
F. E. CROW.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cox to Consul Crow.
Bushire, June 29, 1910.
A COPY of the under-mentioned communication is forwarded with compliments
to His Majesty’s consul, Bussorah, for information.
P. z. COX,
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. .
[2853 ff —1]
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