'File No: E.7. Qatar & Anglo-Turkish Convention of 1913' [‎17r] (50/460)

CONFIDENTIAL
f
No. C, G.-52, dated Bushire, the 21st July (received 3rd August) 1914,
From —Major S. G. Knox, 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. iu the Persian
Gulf,
To The Foreign Secretarv to the Government of India Foreign and Political
Department, Simla.
In amplification of my telegram No. 8r 2, dated 21st July 1914 to your
address I have the honour to forward herewith the promised draft agreement
and notification which 1 propose when duly authorised by Government to do so,
to endeavour to obtain from Shaikh Abdullah bin Jasim bin Thani. 'I he draft
has been prepared from the material at my disposal in Sir Percy Cox's despatch to
the Government of India dated 22nd June 1913 on this subject and Government
of India telegram dated nth September 1913 to the Marquess of Crewe together
with the considerable light, thrown on the altitude and intentions of the A1 Thani
family by Sir Percy Cox's earlier despatch to the Secretary to the Government of
India in the Foreign Department, No. 755» dated 2nd March 19'3.
2. It appears to me to be a matter for ronsiderarion on the spot whether
the Treaty should be made with the natural head of the family only, Shaikh
Abdullah bin Jasim bin Thani or whether the other sons of old Shaikh Jasim should
sign also. It would no doubt be preferable to deal with one man, if only to pre
vent family squabbles in regard to the distribution of the subsidy I propose
should be granted, but the local situation may render this unsatisfactory. Some
latitude should also, I venture to submit, be given to me in regard to the amount
of the subsidy and possibly with regard to the question of the settlement of a
compassionate allowance to Salih al Mana, the Qatar owner of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , men-
Uoned in Foreign Department telegram No. S -4 .97 dated 26th August 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. , in case that question is raised.
3. It will be noted that the draft agreement falls naturally into three por
tions, of which the 1st and second must be secured, if we are to have anythinc/
tangible from the Shaikh of Qatar in the way of a Treaty. The third portion
contains several clauses that might be dropped if the Shaikh objected to them.
have enclosed these portions in brackets. It would howevt r seem a pity net to
try and obtain them if possible, and 1 do not imagine that the Shaikh will make
dithculties over what will appear to him to be comparative trifles in respect of the
to him serious obligations of stopping the arms traffic, slavery clauses and receiv
ing a British Agent.
Drcijt Agreement between the British Gcvernment and Shaikh AbdulU bin
Jasim bin Thani } Shaikh of Qatar.
f :.„il S i ai u h ou b M l i," al i' n ., JaS V," bin 1hani ' undertake that I will, as do the
nendly Arab Shaikhs of Abu Dthabi, Debai, Ajman, Ras-ul-Khaima and Urr.m-
a -gawain, co-operate with the High British Government in the suppression of the
slave trade, piracy and the Arms Iraffic. To this end, Major Knox, Political
Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , has favoured me with a printed copy of the
ih . en P^ ementS ' entered lnt0 between the Shaikhs above mentioned and
hv ptlhL/ n « ^ ern M ent a • hereby declare ,hat 1 acc ep t and w II abide
by each and a" of the obligations imposed on the aforesaid Shaikhs by those
and engagements aforesaid and will observe the same faithfully.
» 0n ^e ot ' i er hand, the British Government undertakes that I and mv sub
jects and my and their vessels shall receive all the immunities, privileges and ad
vantages that are conferred on the friendly Shaikhs, their subiecis and their
thprp f't token whereof, Major Knox has affixed his signature with the date
thereof to each and everyone of the aforesaid Treaties and Engagements in the
thereoitTeLh^d ^ ' have , a '| S0 affixed m y signature and seal with the date
ereof to each and everyone of the aforesaid Treaties and Eneagements n two
hidden!" C0PieS 0f ^ ^ TrealieS and ^S^ments tha t ? it may not be
fnrhi^r^' P art ' cu ' ar , I, Shaikh Abdulla, have further published a proclamation
S g u- e 1[ T rt 0f Arms int0 "y territories of Qatar and aln foons and
' S ' a " ds - 1 'S understood, however, that the British Government wiM arrante to
or sucrothe^ Se'a S P the Bryrh d G rnPOrt ' fr0m ^ MaSqat Arms Chouse
P ace as the Br,tlsh Government may approve, for my per§pnal use