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'TURKISH JURISDICTION IN THE ISLANDS AND WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AND ON THE ARAB LITTORAL' [120r] (25/28)
The record is made up of 1 file (14 folios). It was created in 7 Apr 1879. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
Undeu-Secuetaht.
This is a very good Note. I would
certainly draft as you propose in regard to
the Odeid case, in reply to Secretary of
State—showing the reasons why the claim
to regard Odeid as Turkish territory is
very disputable, and adding that it would
he doubtful policy to allow Odeid to
secede from Abuthabi, one of our Treaty
Chiefs, under the cloak of such a
claim. We should explain our proceedings
against Odeid; and the line indicated at
pages 15—16 of the Note may be generally
followed. But in our letter, 10th May
1877, we have already taken up the
ground that there is no tangible evidence
of Turkish suzerainty over Odeid. And
Lord Salisbury, in his letter, 25th June
1877, to the Foreign Office, does in some
sort of way appear to indicate that the
Turks are responsible; though he does
not object to our stopping piracies with
out their intervention. His view is that
that we can go on dealing with Odeid as
suits us, even though Odeid hoist the Tur
kish flag. If the Foreign Office does not
object to this, it would suit us well
enough. I doubt whether the Foreign
Office will agree to 1 refuse the Turkish
claim.
Then as to the general question, we
must draft on the time of discussing and
examining the points noted by you in
paragraph 21 and the following para
graphs. I do not feel sure that we ought
to propose a final demarcation ; and I am
not sure that it is necessary, for the trade
and maritime peace of the Gulf, to mark
off and assert finally Turkish jurisdiction
along the land. So long as we possess
the power of direct interference to stop
piracies and to hold the Chiefs responsible,
we need not require more. If the Turks
are gradually restricting this power,
while they do not exercise it themselves,
that is a practical reason for checking
their extension of jurisdiction; but if they
do not actually prevent us from doing as
we think fit, it is hardly for us to mark
off jurisdiction. And I should say their
claim to all the intervening coast between
Bidaa and Ojair would be weak, if it were
only based upon claims to suzerainty over
both those places.
Have we no record laying down our
established and continuous policy in
regard to our relations with Turkey in
the Gulf, and the limits which we have
decided to maintain as independent ?
Please speak to me early, before drafting.
We ought to review the whole case as to
policy from the beginning. See Prideaux’s
suggestion, September 1876, about the
Yemen precedent.
About this item
- Content
Memorandum written by Trevor John Chicheley Plowden, Under Secretary to the Foreign Department, Government of India, 21 Mar 1879, and published 25 March 1879 in Lahore by the Punjab Government.
The memorandum addresses the question of Turkish jurisdiction in the islands and waters of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. and on the Arab littoral, looking at the entire southern coast from Koweit [Kuwait] to Ras-el-Had [Ra’s al-Hadd], but focusing primarily on the Arab coast and islands from Ras Tanorah [Ra's Tannūrah] to Ras Mussendom [Ra’s Musandam], including El-Bidaa [al-Bida], Bahrein [Bahrain], Zobara [Zubārah], El-Katr [Qatar] and the territories of the Arab Trucial Coast A name used by Britain from the nineteenth century to 1971 to refer to the present-day United Arab Emirates. chiefs.
The memorandum commences with a brief history of events at Odeid [Al ‘Udayd] in the 1800s, and the uncertainty in the 1870s over whether or not it was part of the territory of the Chief of Abuthabi [Abu Dhabi] or was an independent territory, and also discusses attempts by the Chief of El-Katr to persuade the Chief at Odeid, Shaikh Buttye to hoist a Turkish flag, which he refused.
The memorandum, which cites correspondence from 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. (Colonel Lewis Pelly, Colonel Edward Charles Ross), goes on to consider the Turkish authorities in Nejd [Najd] and their interests in Abuthabi and Debaye [Dubai]; further claims of Turkish interest in Odeid, including in 1877 claims that the inhabitants of Odeid were paying a tribute to the Turks through the Chief of El-Bidaa; and correspondence with the Turkish Government regarding an increase in piracy along the El-Katr coast.
The memorandum focuses particularly on events in Odeid from 1877 onwards, including attempts to mediate a settlement between Abuthabi and Odeid; British intentions to support Abuthabi should a settlement not be mediated; vessels belonging to the Chief of Odeid having attacked vessels from Wukra [al Wakrah], breaching the maritime peace. The memorandum then reverts to the original questions relating to Turkish jurisdiction and concludes that Odeid is not a part of El-Katr territory, and is part of Abuthabi territory and is therefore answerable to the Chief of Abuthabi.
The memorandum then reverts to the larger question of Turkish jurisdiction and considers the area from Ojair [al-‘Uqayr] to El-Bidaa and noting that they were not considered to be responsible for that area, but could have reasonable claim to do so should they wish; it also discusses the possibility of negotiating a line of demarcation to show where Turkish jurisdiction ends and British jurisdiction commences and the need for the British Government to reserve the right to suppress maritime irregularities at sea. The memorandum concludes by considering whether the question of a line of demarcation should be put to the Secretary of State for India; how to ensure that Bahrein [Bahrain] is recognised as independent of all Governments except Great Britain; and what impact such an agreement might have on Persia.
Accompanying the memorandum is a note written by Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall, Secretary to the Foreign Department, Government of India, 7 April 1879 which supports the proposals outlined within it.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (14 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at folio 108 and terminates at folio 121, as it is part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in the top-right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio; these numbers are also written in pencil but are not circled.
Pagination: This section of the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
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- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B126
- Title
- 'TURKISH JURISDICTION IN THE ISLANDS AND WATERS OF THE PERSIAN GULF, AND ON THE ARAB LITTORAL'
- Pages
- 108r:121v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence