'File 73/7 II (D 22) Status of Koweit [Kuwait] - Baghdad railway, Anglo Turkish negotiations' [‎209v] (424/540)

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The following extracts are also from contemporary records
In 1827 : " A piracy was committed by Obed, an inhabitant of Bidaa, a
Bahrain dependency."
In 1828 : " The Chief of Bidaa, making a murderous attack on a native,
was placed in confinement by his feudal superior the Chief of
Bahrain)."
Again, writing on the 1st January, 1854, Captain (afterwards General Sir
Arnold) Kemball, whose name is well-known at Constantinople, wrote
" The Chief of Bahrain is independent. The territory of Bahrain consists
of the two islands known by that name, and the line of coast extend
ing from the bottom of the bight in which they are situated to Khor-
al-Adeed, on the other side of the promontory of Has Tanoorah.
As to the population of the dependencies of Bahrain on the Guttur
Coast no correct estimate can be formed."
In a letter, dated the 29th December, 1843, the ex-Chiei of Bahrain wrote :
" When, therefore, my subjects who inhabit the Guttur {El Katr) Coast perceived," etc.
! According to the official records of the British Government the following is-
the position with regard to Bahrain and El Katr :—
In the latter half of the eighteenth century the Uttobees (an independent
tribe), having settled at Zobara and ejected the Persians from Bahrain, became
paramount there. In 1851 the Wahabee Ameer established a governor at Et
Bidaa, and threatened to occupy the Bahrain Islands. But peace was concluded
in the same year, and the town of El Bidaa was restored to the Bahrain chief.
Disagreements between the latter and his dependents on El Katr peninsula were
settled by British intervention in 1868.
In that year Her Majesty's Government also concluded an agreement with
Muhammad-bin-Thani, Shaikh of El Katr. As soon as Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's expedition,
was heard of, the British Ambassador protested to the Grand Vizier in person on
the 3rd April, 1871, and these protests were repeated by M. Pisani on the 25th
April and 15th May. In return, explicit assurances were given by the Grand Vizier,
which satisfied Her Majesty's Government, and they were repeated by Server
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. on the 18th January, 1872. They were referred to by the British political
officer in a communication to Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who did not himself, nor did the
Turkish Government, dispute them.
In 1871 a deputation was sent by the commander of the Turkish troops to
induce Jasim, Muhammad-bin-Thani's son, to accept the Turkish flag. Muham
mad, at that time old and infirm, did not approve of this step, and continued to,
fly the Arab flag over his own house. It was in 1876 that Shaikh Jasim was first
appointed kaimakam by the Turkish Government, his father having died in 1878.,
In 1881 Shaikh Jasim, however, renewed, orally, the agreement of 1868 with the
British Government, the Shaikh undertaking, inter alia, to refer his disagreements,
with neighbouring Shaikhs to the British Eesident at Bushire.
In 1882, Jasim having harassed certain Indian traders, the Government of
India compelled him to pay an indemnity and to apologise, on pain of instant
hostilities. The Sublime Porte protesting, Lord Granville informed Musurus
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. on the 7th May, 1883, that the claims of the Porte to rights of sove
reignty over the Katr coast had never been admitted by Her Majesty's Govern
ment," and this attitude has been maintained consistently ever since.
The events which took place in 1893 in the vicinity of El Katr and the affair
of Misaimir are well, known.to the Turkish Government. The incident was closed
by Shaikh Ahmed (who had been appointed by Shaikh Jasim plenipotentiary)
having an interview with the British Resident, and asking to be allowed to renew
in writing the 1868 agreement. Again in 1898 and 1899 Shaikh Ahmed asked to
be allowed to enter into closer relations with the British Government.