File E/8 I Ibn Sa‘ud [‎161r] (344/606)

V
CONFIDENTIAL.
No. 2051, dated Busliire, tlie 28tli June 1914,
From-— M ajor S. G. K nox , C .I.E., Officiating 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. ,
To—The H on'ble L ieutenant- C olonel S ir P. Z. Oox, K .C .LE,, C .S .I., Foreign
Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign and Political Depart
ment, Simla.
In amplification of my telegram No. 725, dated 23rd June 1914, repeating to
you the telegram dated 23rd June sent by His Majesty's Consul, Basrah, to the
Embassy at Constantinople, on the subject of Turkish negotiations with Bin Saud,
I have the honour to repoxt that news has been received from the 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 effect that Shaikh Mujbil iM Thakair, an influential Najdi mer
chant, resident in Bahrain, whose brother's daughter was recently married to Bin
Saud, has informed the 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, that he had interviews with both
the Turkish representative and Bin Saud. Both parties informed him that an
arrangement was eventually arrived at.
2. Shaikh Mujbil did not see the text of the agreement, but he understands
that the Porte was allowed to station five soldiers at each of the following places,
'Oqair, Qatif and Jubail to keep the Turkish flag flying but that no other Turkish
garrisons would be placed in Hasa or Najd.
Bin Saud receives a monthly allowance of £ T. 250 as ruler of Hasa. He col
lects customs dues, deducts expenses of administration, and pays Turkey l-10th
of the balance. He flies his own flag.
Bin Saud's prestige in Bahrain has been greatly enhanced by these rumours-
It is thought that he has agreed to exclude foreign traders and has been given
" carte blanche " against Qatr.
On the other hand, the 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. , Kuwait, has never heard any such
story and apparently discredits it; I was myself inclined to do so on first hearing
it, as I did indirectly before Shaikh Mujbil reached Bahrain, when he was on his
way from Kuwait,
However, the 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. , Kuwait, writing on the 16th June, agrees that
further correspondence has undoubtedly taken place between the Turks and Bin
Saud but Shaikh Sir Mubarak professes that he knows nothing on the subject.
A Kuwait report says that the Turks have agreed to leave Bin Saud in pos
session of Hasa and. Qatif on payment of a yearly sum of money.
As far as one can venture to make any prophecy on these conflicting rumours-
it would seem that the Turkish envoys have failed to arrive at any definite under
standing with the Amir but have patched up some vague truce with Bin
Saud which the latter will be free to abide by or neglect as he pleases and which
they 'have misrepresented to Constantinople as a binding agreement.
The next few weeks should show whether the Amir will show any hostility
to British traders, and the only matter that affords me any concern lest the " status
quo " should be altered to the detriment of British interests is that Shaikh Sir
Mubarak bin Subah is not very communicative.