'File 10/3 VI Qatar Oil Concession' [‎79r] (169/481)

and to adhere as long as possible to the present policy of H.M. Government, which
is to abstain strictly from intervention, direct or indirect, in the affairs of Nejd.
The general attitude of H.M. Government, which in this matter is based on
considerations of European policy, is to consolidate the power of the Central
Government in Asiatic Turkey, and if H.M. Government were to approach the
Ottoman Government, as suggested by Sir P. Cox, with a view to concluding
direct agreements with Ibn Saud as an autonomous ruler, it would give rise to
suspicion and might have far-reaching and regrettable effects."
Ihn Saud and the Trucial Area 1913.
161. On 18th June the Viceroy reported that Ibn Saud had sent an envoy to P. 2449/13.
the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. Agent at Shargah, bearing a letter to him and one for the Sheikh
of Dabai, intimating that he had recovered without bloodshed "the ancestral
possessions of his forefathers, namely, Hasa and its dependencies, and had
established peace and public security therein."
Overtures by Ihn Saud to H.M. Government, June 1913. "
IGw. On 13th June 1913 Ibn Saud wrote to Sir P. Cox informing him of
the conquest of Hasa, and suggesting a friendly understanding. The following p.E.toG.of
extract from his letter is of importance because of its reference both to an earlier I- No. 2048,
British treaty with Wahabis and to the " dependencies " of Hasa, &c. :— p 7 ^ 13
" We beg to address Your Honour in consideration of the previous
friendship between us and you and of the still earlier treaty belonging to
the time of my grandfather, Faisal—may God forgive him—of the period
of which 55 years have elapsed and 55 years still remain to run. I desire to
establish the same in the same manner as it existed between you and my
ancestors, and this (fact) has prompted me to make this reference. Firstly,
I am confident that there will happen nothing to your people to produce
causes which may be contrary to friendship and rules. And we have
nowadays conquered the countries of our fathers and forefathers (viz.),
El Hasa and El Katif, as well as their dependencies. ... I desire to be on
the same terms with you as existed between you and my ancestors, and I
desire that those terms should exist between me and you after them (my
ancestors)."
163. Sir Percy Cox replied (9th July 1913) that the British Government P.R. toG.ot
considered it necessary to observe a strictly neutral attitude towards both sides. }■> 2249 '
No reference was made to the alleged treaties with the Amir Faisal. p 0 3441/13
Ihn Saud's Overtures to the Turks, July 1913.
1(34. On 11th July 1913 Sir P. Cox reported that an envoy from Ibn Saud
had reached Bahrein en route for Basra with telegrams to Constantinople P. 2763/13.
J* explaining that the Amir's action had been forced on him in the public interest,
and that he entertained the utmost loyalty to the Sublime Porte. The Resident
urged that H.M. Government should inform Ibn Saud that we should be glad to
?ee him reconciled to the Turks and to assist in promoting such reconciliation. ''-O. to I.O.,
The Porte could be informed that we had so replied. This proposal was supported
by the Government of India and the 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. ; but, the Foreign Office objecting p 2948/13
to the suggestion that we should offer to assist in promoting such reconciliation,"
it was abandoned.
A nglo -T urkish C onvention of 29 th J uly 1913.
165. In July 1913, as the result of the negotiations referred to in para. 150
above, a convention between Great Britain and Turkey was initialled, under
which Turkey :
(«) recognised Koweit as an autonomous kaza of the Ottoman Empire and
accepted as valid the Sheikh's agreements with H.M. Government;
(^) abandoned all its claims and rights in respect of Qatar; H.M. Government
undertaking not to allow Bahrein to interfere with the internal affairs
of Qatar, to infringe its autonomy, or to annex it;