File E/8 I Ibn Sa‘ud [‎79r] (170/606)

momentarily successful rebel, and nothing can be offered to the Turks on behalf
of Bin Saud, so far as I can see, which would appear in their eyes at the present
moment an advantage worth purchasing by the concession to him of a single point.
There can be no doubt that the Turks hope and expect to drive Bin Saud out of
Hasa by force of arms ; if not now, then in the course of a few years. The best line
of action for them is undoubtedly to maintain their claim to Hasa as a province of
the Ottoman Empire and to postpone attempting to enforce it until they feel them
selves stronger,—a line which they will in all probability follow. As time passes,
however, if Bin Saud remains in adverse possession of Hasa, the Porte may become
disposed to negotiate with him, possibly with our assistance. Three-cornered
negotiations may then perhaps take place with some hope of a settlement accept
able to both parties being reached, but at present circumstances are not propitious.
7. In short the most expedient course for His Majesty's Government is, I
venture to think, to take in hand at once, as indicated above, the questions which
seem capable of direct settlement between their Political representatives and Bin
Saud, at the same time informing Bin Saud that his position in Hasa is a question
in which they can only mediate between him and the Turks with the consent of
both parties, but that they will do their best to support him in this manner. In
fulfilment of this promise if authorised an effort might now be made to obtain, in
the words of Sir Percy Cox's memorandum enclosed in his letter No. 4005-M., dated
2nd December, 1913" an undertaking from them (i.e., the Turks) not to take
hostile action by sea against the coast left in Bin Saud's control without a previous
exchange of views with us."
In making these recommendations, I do not lose sight of the fact that Bin Saud,
if left to himself, may conclude with the Turks some arrangement unfavourable
to British interests in Hasa ; but, should he do so, it will be open to His
Majesty's Government to take such action as is required for vindicating the in
terests threatened.
No. T.-805, dated Bahrain, the 20th December 1913.
From— M ajor A. P. T revor , C .I .E., Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Bahrain,
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 Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.
I have the honour to invite a reference to Sir Percy Cox's letter No. 3669,
dated the 2nd December 1913, instructing me to proceed to Ojair in company with
Captain Shakespear, Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Kuwait, as soon as Bin Saud arrives on the
coast, and to interview him there ; in reply I beg to submit the following report of
our proceedings.
2. As already reported in my diary I had heard (through Shaikh Isa) that Bin
Saud would arrive at Hasa about the middle of Moharram, so that when Captain
Shakespear arrived on the 7th December, having been kindly given a passage on the
flagship by His Excellency the Naval Commander-in-Chief, I knew that there
would be some little delay.
3 On the 12th December a special messenger from Bin Saud arrived with
letters for Captain Shakespear and myself, explaining his delay in reaching the
coast and saving that he would be at Ojair on Monday, the 16th Moharram (15th
December 1913). I at once replied by the same messenger stating that Captain
Shakespear and myself were ready waiting in Bahrain and that we would start
for Ojair on the morning of Sunday, the 12th December (15th Moharram) and if the
weather was favourable would reach there on the same night.
4. Having obtained a " boom " through Abdullah al-Gasebi, Bin Saud's agent
at Bahrain, I accordingly left Bahrain on the morning of the 14th December, but,
owing to being becalmed for several hours en Toute, we only arrived outside he reef
off Oiair about midnight. The next morning (Monday, the 15th December) when
making our way into the port a little before sunrise we saw Bm Sauds camp
being pitched on the sand-hills about a mile east of the Custom-House and Serai
(the only buildings or habitations of any description at Ojair), an ga ered that
Bin Saud had already arrived. I landed with Captain Shakespear at about 8 a.m.,
and we were received by Bin Saud with great politeness on the shore outside the