'File 73/7 IV (D 25) Anglo-Turkish Negotiations' [‎39r] (89/103)

Zo io. ii
[This Docrnnent is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA
CONFIDENTIAL.
[September 18.]
Section 6.
[42737] No. 1.
India OJJice to Foreign Office.—{Keceived September 18.)
Sir, India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , llth September, 1913.
IN continuation of previous correspondence as to the situation on the Arabian
littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , I am directed to enclose, to be laid before the Secretary ot
State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a telegram from the Viceroy regarding the policy to
be adopted in relation to the El Katr peninsula.
The Marquess of Crewe agrees with the Government of India that it is desirable in
all the circumstances to defer for the present any action in regard to the conclusion of a
treaty with Sheikh Abdullah, and he would propose, subject to Sir E. Grey's concurrence
to instruct the Government of India accordingly.
I am, &c.
LIONEL ABRAHAMS.
Enclosure in No. 1.
Government of India to the Marquess of Crewe.
(Telegraphic.) P. September 11, 1913.
El Katr.
Please refer to my telegram dated 13th ultimo.
Resident recently paid visit to A1 Bidaa and told Sheikh that arrangements for
Turkish garrison's withdrawal were in progress. He now reports:—
" Newspaper reports of the conclusion of the Convention and of the intention that
Turkish garrison should be withdrawn had already been seen by Sheikh, but in view of
recent arrival of a Turkish gunboat with rations for garrison for some months, and of
positive statement by her captain to Sheikh, that the report as to garrison's withdrawal
was quite unfounded, I gave Sheikh a written intimation.
" He puts his position vis-d-vis Bin Sand thus. On his father's death Bin Saud
wrote and asked him to pay him a visit, saying that he must get rid of Turks" garrison
if he wanted to retain Bin Saud's friendship. To this Abdullah replied that the
garrison did no harm, and that to turn it out would only make Turkish Government his
enemy ; he undertook, however, not to admit of any increase of garrison, or to allow
Turks to use El Katr as base of operations. He declined invitation to visit Bin Saud
for the present, excusing himself on score of his father's death.
" He also told me that Khalifah, his elder half-brother, had paid Bin Saud a visit
and that while he professed to have spoken to the Amir in sense of Abdullah's letter,
latter could not put absolute trust in him. He said that in any case, in event of Bin
Saud seriously intending to occupy El Katr, he was not sure that even if he and his
brothers were united, they would be able to keep him out. and expressed opinion that
a warning from us would not stop him from instigating raids into El Katr by Bedouin
though it might perhaps prevent him from going to A1 Bidaa.
" Sheikh added that the recognition now accorded of his independence was
appreciated by him, and that in any case, provided we gave him facilities for meeting
his own legitimate requirements, he was ready to co-operate in suppressing arms traffic ;
in other respects he hoped we would refrain from pressing alterations in status quo
at once.
What with the Turks and ourselves and Bin Saud, the fact is that the Sheikh
does not know quite where he is."
Avoidance of haste is in circumstances clearly desirable, and for the present, action
regarding treaties should be put off. Such delay will also fit in with Foreign Office's
expressed wish that publication of Anglo-Turkish Agreement should not be followed by
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