'File No: E.7. Qatar & Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1913' [‎8r] (32/460)

CONFIDENTIAL
No. 1963, dated Bushire, the 2and (received 30th) June 1913.
From-LiEUTENANT -COLONEL Sir Percy Cox, K.C .I. E., C .S .T., Poli'ical
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Departmenti
Simla.
I have the honour to reply to Foreign Department Telegram No. 140-8.,
dated 29th May, asking my views as to the steps which can best be taken in
order to enable us to obtain full advantage from the new position which we are
acquiring in relation to the Katar Peninsula under the Anglo-Turkish Convention
now on the point of conclusion.
2. At the moment, the subject is rendered a little complicated by an
independent development, namely, the expulsion of the Turks from Hasa and
Katif and the assumption of the control of that province by Bin Saud. Mean
while the Porte shows no sign of removing their garrison from A1 Bidaa, and
indeed I doubt whether Shaikh Jasim would readily part with it at present, for
in the absence of the Turkish garrison or of assurances from us to supply the
place of it, he would not unnaturally feel somewhat apprehensive of being
absorbed ty Bin Saud.
For this reason I am inclined to think that another meeting with him at an
early date is advisable either on the part of 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, or
myself., for the purpose of explaining to him the gist of the Anglo-Turkish Con
vention so far as it concerns Katar and Bahrain, and in order to see vhat we are
likely to get him to accept in the direction of closer relations with us. The
inability to give him any reply on the subject of the Arms Traffic Subsidy will
be a little inconvenient, but I think it will be possible to make him understand
that this matter is connected with our current negotiations with the French
Government and that the consideration of it necessarily takes a long time.
It seems possible that the said negotiations with France may have advanced
somewhat in the last few weeks and that the horizon may be clearer for a con
sideration of the Katar question ; in any case, presuming that the Convention
with Turkey admits of it, it will probably be necessary to give Shaikh Jasim a
subsidy in some form.
3. As soon as the ground is sufficiently prepared, I am of opinion that we
should make a treaty with Shaikh Jasim by which we should recognise his
autonomy, give him assurances of protection, (so long as he observes his obliga
tions to us) from attack by sea, and good offices to prevent unprovoked attack
by land (by Bin Saud for instance) and should in return require from him under
takings under the following heads, so far as proves possible.
(i) To receive an Agent of the British Government of India at A1 Bidaa;
(for the present a Mohammedan Agent of the type of the Resi-
'dency Agent at Lingah, working immediately under the Political
Agent at Bahrain).
(ii) To allow British Indians to reside in the Katar ports for trade, and
to afford protection for their lives and properties.
(iii) Not to levy duty at more than 5 per cent ad valorem,
(iv) To render co-operation generally for the oreservation of the
Maritime Truce, and in particular for the suppression of the Slave
Trade, Piracy and the Arms Traffic.
(v) To issue a prohibition against the import or sale of Arms and
Ammunition in Katar territory except under special license.
(vi) To undertake not to allow foreigners including British subjects, to
acquire monopolies or concessions ; or to acquire pearling rights or
use diving dresses in his waters, without the cognizance and
approval of the British Government.