File 345/1908 Pt 1 'Mohammerah: situation. British assurances to Sheikh.' [‎161v] (327/416)

Sir N.
O’Conor to
Lord Lans-
downe,
Jane 28,
1904 .
Mr. Brod-
rick to
Govern
ment of
India, ,
August 5,
1904 .
Mr. Town-
ley to
Lord Lans-
downe,
November
22, 1904.
Mr. Brod-
rick to
Govern
ment of
India,
December
20, 1904.
Mr. Spring-
Rice,
No. 15,
March 20,
1900.
been so used as to destroy the British trade previously established at that place. It
was pointed out, in illustration, that the Bania Merchant of Indian extraction. , community of Katif had, in 1900, been
reduced from one of 70 or SO persons to a single tiader, and, fuither, that those still
desirous of carrying on trade at the port had, in the same year, expressed their
willingness to pay> in advance, the cost of maintaining a British Agent to protect
their interests on the spot. This request, it was added, was repeated during Lord
Curzon’s visit to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in 1903,when the British Indian merchants of
Bahrein petitioned his Excellency for the appointment of a British Bepresentative to
protect their interests at Katif. The Government of India accordingly recommended
(1) that 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. at Bahrein should be appointed Vice-Consul for El Hasa,
and (2) that a Native Consular Agent should be stationed at Katif.
Sir N. O’Conor, who was consulted, thought that these suggestions should not
be pressed for the moment, and his view was accepted by His Majesty’s Government.
In communicating this decision to the Government of India, Mr. Brodrick wrote as
follows, in a despatch dated the 5th August, 1904“ It will be seen that His
Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople, . . . . , having regard to the interpretation
which the Turkish Government might place on the appointment of a Consular officer
for El Hasa, and to the objection they would feel, at present, to recognizing such an
officer, does not consider it advisable that effect should be given to the suggestion
that the Political Officer at Bahrein should he invested with Vice-Consular jurisdiction
over the Turkish district of El Hasa. Eor similar reasons, Sir N. O’Conor is of opinion
that the present moment is unsuited for appointing a Native Consular Agent at Katif,
and he suggests that the consideration of this proposal should be deferred till the
result is seen of the representations which he has addressed to the Turkish Govern
ment, in regard to the grievances of the Indian traders, which formed the subject of
the Government of India’s letter of the 31st March, 1904. These views are approved
by His Majesty’s Government.”
In September 190 f the British Consul at Bussorah reported that the necessary
instructions had been sent to the Mutessarif of Hasa, regarding the abatement of
the excess duties at Katif, of which British Indians had complained; and Mr. Brodrick
informed the Government of India, on the 20th December, 1904, that he had intimated
to the Eoreign Office that, “ if practical effect is given to these orders, it will be
unnecesary to press for the appointment of a Consular Agent at Katif.’
The question has not subsequently been raised.
IV.— Mohammerah.
Sheikh Khazal is the acknowledged Head of the Muhaisen tribe of the Chaab
Arabs, living on both sides of the Karun, from near Shuster to its junction with the
Shat-ei-Arab near Mohammerah, and on the left bank of the Shat-el-Arab from
Mohammerah to its mouth, and between the Tigris and the Shat-el-Arab to the
west, and to the Jerrish River on the east.
As regards the Persian Government, the position of the Sheikh, who murdered
his brother, Sheikh Mizal, in 1897, has always been that of a great feudal Prince, who
in smaller matters has thought it well to humour the Central Government while
remaining at the same time extremely jealous in matters touching his quasi-indepen
dence.
His attitude to British interests has been friendly, and in striking contrast to
that of the Persian officials in South-west Persia.
Ever since 1898 the Sheikh has shown himself nervous about his position in
the event of the break-up of the Persian Empire, and anxious to obtain guarantees
regarding the independence of his territories in certain eventualities.
In November 1899, when Sir M. Durand visited the Karun, the Sheikh made a
request for assurances. While declining to afford guarantees of the nature desired,
Sir M. Durand intimated to him that “he might rely upon our help whenever we
could give it without ill-faith to the Persian Government.”
The intention formed by the Central Government in 1900 to include Moham
merah in the newly organized Customs system increased the anxiety of the Sheikh
to obtain some kind of guarantee, the more so since rumours were prevalent that the *
* It was again repeated to Major Cox in July 1904, the merchants offering to pay a fee equivalent to
2,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. per annum towards the cost of the appointment.