![‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎67] (79/160)](https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000884.0x0001b8/IOR_L_PS_20_C238_0080.jp2/full/!1200,1200/0/default.jpg "‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [‎67] (79/160)")
‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [67] (79/160)
The record is made up of 1 volume (80 folios). It was created in 1904. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
67
256. The Foreign Secretary Mr. Aitchisons' note on these reports^ discloses
the ^iews of tlie Government of India on the problems and is quoted
below:—
•' I do not suppose the Secretary of State expects any expression of the views of the Gov
ernment of India on Commander Dought /s exposition of Gulf politics. _ Government have
already written fullv and repeatedly to state to the Secretary of State their objections to the
Presence of a large Turkish force in the Gulf, and T don't see that any further writing w.U do
anv ffood. It might, perhaps, be enough to acknowledge this despatch, refer to our vauous
lettefs, and tell the Secretary of State that it would be well to send an early answer.
There is any great deal that is both suggestive and true in Commander Doughty s letter.
It is generally understood that, since we threw the Turks over m the Black Sea affair, they are
on faf better terms with Russia than they ever were before. ^ hatever may be their ultimate
obiect it is bejond dispute that the Turks have, within the last two years, shown ^y difi-
nosition to extend their authority in Arabia and in the Person Gulf both by sea and land.
Perhaps it is inevitable ; and possibly the time has gone bye for the maintenanoe of our exc u-
S iv e authoVtv in the Gulf. I hope not ; but it looks very like it, and it certainly will be the
case if the Secretary of State leaves our numerous despatches on Gulf P^ tlc '
unanswered But, however, that may be, 1 think the opening of Jhe Suez Canal has made
ten times more our interest to be on good and intimate terms with Turkey than it e ver ™
before and the course taken in the Black Sea discussions is much to be regretted so far as the
interest of India is concerned. Turkey is a far more valuable al y than Persia i. and w l,
continue to be under the thumb of Russia. We can hardly expect to compete successfully wi h
Russi^or influence in Persian counsels. When General Goldsmid was in Calcutta he to d
me that the Shah did not take a single step in the discussions about the Mekran bound ry
without consulting the Russian Minister.
Now that the overland carrying trade from China has been ruined hy the opening of the
canal 1 look uron it as a matter of certainty that the Russia will sooner or later have a port
^ thePcHan Gnlf for her commerce. We shall then be brought face to face with bigger
Questions than have arisen during the Nejd campaign, and it is ot the utmost importance
before that event occurs, that our position in the Gulf should be put on a well recognized and
sound footing and all causes c£ irrilalion with Turkey and Persia removed. If the discussions
S tble Powers are ever to he amicably settled and, what is more important, settled m our
favour,It murt be now. it will never be done if we put oft till some other buropean lower
has established itself in the Gulf.
267 About the close of the year 1871, there were rumours that in addition
'• to the Lebanon and Iskandena several
Secret, April 1872, Nos. 99-103. more Turkish vessels would be stationed
on the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
. Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Constantinople was
directed to make the necessary enquiries from Server
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
. The answer of
Server
Pasha
An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
was that he was not aware of any such intention. He howe e
added that :—
« Bussrah has always been, and still is a Turkish Naval station, that f e number of
steamers a ?t^ a % employed on ^he Ai^ian Coast ^ se^n, two o w^ic ^are,
conduct the gLtitude of tbe
Ottoman Government."
268 Her Majesty's Government at last directed their Ambassador at
zoo. * Constantinople to make a representation to
Secret, September i87i, Nos. 20-28. porte in regard to the Turkish pro
ceedings in the
Persian Gulf
The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
, in the Foreign Secretary's Despatch No. 20, dated
6th June 1872, which is quoted below : —
<f T have received of late, through the Foreign Office, repeated representations from the
number of vessels employed in those waters.
tt Maicstv's Government, however, consider that as long as Turkey is engaged m
upholdmg its legitimate
it considers necessary for doin & so, at authority which would raise questions
expect that no attempt will be made to state o'f things
must isarily cause the British Govern-
ment to take counteracting steps to reareure the public mind.
About this item
- Content
Part 1 of a Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. gazetteer of historical and political materials, a précis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs. The précis was prepared by Jerome Antony Saldanha, whose preface (under which his surname is erroneously spelt Saldana) is dated 25 November 1904, and published by the Government of India Foreign Deptartment, Simla, India.
The preface is an historical outline of the struggle for political dominance in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , including Portuguese, British, Wahabi [ Wahhābī A follower of the Islamic reform movement known as Wahhabism; also used to refer to the people and territories ruled by the Al-Saud family. ] and Turkish expansion. The chapters (titles shown in italics) deal with the subject in an roughly chronological fashion:
1. Early history of Hasa and Katif , including: references to the area in Arabic writing; the first known Arab colonists; and early references to the area in British (East India Company) records;
2. Conquest of Hasa by the Wahabis and Turkish expeditions into Nejd [Najd] and Hasa, and their results 1800-1865 , including: conquest of the area by the Wahabis; Turkish expeditions to the area, 1811-19 and 1836-40; Amir Feysal’s [Fayṣal ibn Turki Āl Sa‘ūd] nominal dependence on Turkey, 1855; troubles in Katif, 1859-62; Turkish protest against British proceedings at Damaum [Dammām], 1862; the British war against Amir Feysal, 1865-66; obsolete title of award of Arabia by an Abbasid caliph to the Ottoman Porte; Ottoman ambitions in Arabia (Holy Ottoman Empire);
3. Turkish expedition to Nejd and Hasa, 1871-72 , including: origins of the expedition; intelligence from 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. , Colonel Lewis Pelly; British policy in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and effects of the Turkish expedition on that policy; Turkish assurances to Britain, communicated to Bahrain (spelt Bahrein throughout) by Pelly; Turkish promise of non-interference with the rulers of the Trucial coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. ; narrative of the events leading up to and including the landing of the expeditionary force in Nejd; Turkish designs on Katar [Qatar], and their hoisting of the Turkish flag at Budaa [Al-Bidda]; Turkish naval activity in the Gulf, and Britain’s naval response; murder of a suspected Turkish messenger at Bahrain; reasons for the non-interference of the British Government in operations on land; further narrative of the expedition and affairs in Nejd; evidence of Turkish designs on Bahrain; Turkish assurances; relations between Turkey and Abuthabi [Abu Dhabi]; close of the Turkish expedition;
4. Internal affairs of Hasa and Katif, 1872-1904 , including: administration and internal organisation; and a list of governors at Hasa, including events of significance occurring during their rule;
5. Survey of the Katif coast, 1873-74 , including: British intentions and permission gained from the Ottoman Porte; complaints of British survey officers landing on the Nejd coast; written permission to land to undertake surveying.
6. Increase of Turkish military and naval forces in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and Turkish policy , including: a memorandum by Captain T Doughty on the state of affairs in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ;
7. (1) Trade Relations of Hindu and other traders of Bahrain with Katif, and their disabilities , and (2) Proposal appointment of a consular officer at Katif ;
8. Piracies , including: piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters, 1878; ; revolt in Hasa and piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters, 1878-81; Turkish responsibilities and jurisdiction for the purpose of suppressing piracies in Katif waters, 1878-81; piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters in 1883; piracies in Katif and Bahrain waters in 1886; piracies in 1887-88; piracies in 1891-92; piracies in 1899-1900; piracies in 1902 and the proposal of the Chief of Bahrain to maintain an armed dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. for the pursuit of pirates, 1902-03;
9. Murder of Sheikh Selman-bin-Diaij-el-Khalifa [Shaikh Salman bin Diaj Āl Khalīfah] , a cousin of the Chief of Bahrain and his party about 40 miles south of Katif. Question of satisfaction and compensation for it ;
10. Turkish designs on Oman and the rest of the East Arabian Littoral, 1888-1899 ;
11. Summary of British declarations against Turkish encroachments in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and of the Porte’s assurances, 1871-1904 .
The cover of volume, on which the title is printed, also has a number of different pencil and pen annotations, marking former external references or numbering systems (‘P.2557/29’, ‘No.5’, ‘C238’).
- Extent and format
- 1 volume (80 folios)
- Arrangement
The volume is arranged into eleven chapters, preceded by a preface. Each chapter is organised by subheadings, and its paragraphs numbered. The paragraph numbers are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first chapter, and ending on 553/553A at the end of the eleventh chapter. A contents page at the front of the volume (ff.4-5) lists the chapters by their headings and subheadings, with each referring to paragraph, rather than page, numbers.
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence, with page numbers located top and centre of each page.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’ [67] (79/160), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C238, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023514031.0x000051> [accessed 8 February 2025]
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/20/C238
- Title
- ‘Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part 1. Historical and political materials. Precis of Turkish expansion on the Arab littoral of the Persian Gulf and Hasa [Al-Hasa] and Katif [Al-Qaṭīf] affairs.’
- Pages
- front, front-i, i-r:ii-v, 1:4, 1:2, 1:35, 37:40, 42:80, 82:108, 110:144, iii-r:iii-v, back-i, back
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence