File 160/1903 'Persian Gulf: El Katr; appointment of Turkish Mudirs; question of Protectorate Treaty with El Katr' [‎417r] (838/860)

Enclosure No. 3.
No. 75, dated Bushire, the 2nd April 1902 (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, Officiating Political Kesident in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
In continuation of my letter No. 70, dated the 31st ultimo, I have the
honour to forward, for the information of the Government of India, copy of a
further letter No. 6*4, dated 29th idem, from the Assistant 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. ,
Bahrein, in which, amongst other matters, he reports the arrest at the instance
of Saad-el- Sazemi, the emissary of the Amir of Nejd, of certain adherents of
the Sand family residing in El Hasa.
2. I have instructed Mr. Gaskin to watch carefully and report at once
any movements of the Turks in connection with Katr.
No. 64, dated Bahrein, the 29th March 1902 (Confidential).
From—J. C. Gaskin, Esq., Assistant 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. at Bahrein,
To— Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, 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. .
In continuation of this office confidential letter No. 55, dated the 22nd
March 1902, I have the honour to report that a confidential Agent, who returned
from Katr on the 27th instant, informs me that the Commandant of the
Turkish garrison at El Bidaa stated, at a gathering at which he was present,
that the Turkish authorities intend to increase the garrison there shortly.
My informant further states that the Commandant’s appeals at Basrah and
El Hasa for funds for the pay and rations of the troops in his charge have
met with no response, and he has been obliged to take a loan of 4,000 Austrian
dollars from Sheikh Ahmed-bin-Thani with which to appease the troops, and
has, as a last resource, sent the Paymaster of the garrison to El Hasa to
procure funds. Beports have been received from El Hasa to the effect that
Saad-el-Hazemi, on his arrival at El Hasa, notified to the Amir of Nejd the
desirability of taking into custody Muhammad-bin-Abdulla Hussein, Ibrahim-
bin-Toog, Musaad-bin-Abdulmehsin-al-Swelim and Ibrahim-bin-Saif, natives
of Eiadh residing in El Hasa and staunch adherents of the Saud family; and
the Amir wrote to the Wali of Basrah on the subject, and the latter accordingly
directed the Mutassarif to carry out Saad’s wishes. Three of the men were
recently seized, and Ibrahim-bin-Saif with the aid of Ahmed-biu-Abdulla-bin-
Milhim, a native of El Hasa, managed to make his escape, and was escorted
safely by a party of about 16 Al Murra tribesmen to A1 Hussein, 8 miles south
of Katif, whence he came to Bahrein on the 28th instant in a boat sent for
him by Sheikh Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab, who was notified of his approach,
and requested to make arrangements for his safe conveyance to Bahrein by
Ahmed-bin-Abdulla-bin-Milhim.
Ibrahim-bin-Saif states that Abdul Aziz-bin-Abdul Bahman-bin-Eaisal has
received the allegiance of the whole of Southern Nejd, and the tithes of the
districts have been paid over to him, and that the majority of the nomad tribes
have also thrown in their lot with him, owing to the Amir having taken no
step, so far, to recover Riadh which is considered to be due to weakness. At
the request of Abdul Aziz the Bedouins have assassinated Abdulla-bin-lbrahim-
bin-Abdul Rahman whose father was one of the officers of the Amir while he
was amongst them for the purpose of buying sheep and cattle. It is generally
thought that Abdul Aziz is now capable of holding his own against the Amir.