'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I: Historical and Political Materials: Précis of Nejd Affairs, 1804-1904.' [‎24v] (48/68)

40
the former investing him with full powers of mediation with the Turks. By
the advice of the Resident, Haji Ahmed communicated with the Turkish Consul
at Bushire. The matter was then referred to the Governor-General of Turkish
Arabia, Rauf Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who had now succeeded Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and m due
course Haii Ahmed was summoned to Baghdad. He left Bushire on 6th
July 1872 accompanied by the Turkish Consul, who had assured the Resident
that the Turkish authorities were desirous of coming to a settlement with
Saud; a statement which the chief Turkish official at Basrah repeated to
Haii’Ahmed. The Resident thought that Rauf Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was inclined to
counteract his predecessor’s policy in Nejd, and that the retirement of the
Turks from Wahabi territory and the appointment of Saud as a tributary of
Turkey with a guarantee of his good faith in the shape of hostages to reside
at Baghdad would probably form the basis of the negotiations. The chief
difficulties to the apprehended were the possible reluctance of Saud to trust
himself in Turkish hands in order to
secret, October 187a, ifcg. 78 . 79 . conduct his negotiations with Haji
Ahmed, the question of hostages, and the possibility of the negotiation not
being completed before the departure of Rauf Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. who had been recalled.
Haji Ahmed arrived at Baghdad and telegraphed to the Resident, who had
been directed not to interfere in the negotiations, that he had come to an
understanding with the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and was about to proceed to the Wahabi coast
in order to carry into effect the terms of the arbitration; but although he
described his negotiations as successful,
secret, October 1872, No. so. the Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. evidently insisted much on
the presence of a hostage on the part of Saud. On his return from Baghdad
he was conveyed to Khatif in a Turkish
secret, August 1872, No. 172 . Steamer with friendly letters for Saud.
Prom Khatif he went to Hasa, where he was entertained by the Governor
and wrote letters to Saud, who was then
Secret, October 1872, bio. US. ^ -i 5 1 p tt a-
several days march from JtLasa, to come
there or else, if that were not possible, to appoint a place of meeting in the
neighbourhood.
Secret, October 1872, No. 114.
152. The Resident considered that Saud was unquestionably desirous of con
cluding some arrangement under which
the Turks should retire, and that they
were equally anxious to withdraw from so costly and unprofitable an expedi
tion as this had proved to be, but the ill-feeling between the brothers was of
course a difficulty in the way of effecting a settlement. The belief he had
previously expressed that Saud would hesitate before placing himself in the
power of the Turks was soon confirmed, for several messengers were despatched
to him by Haji Ahmed apparently in vain ; for though he eventually moved
Also called Fahad bin Sintian. towards Hasa, he sent his cousin Pahad
„ „ , bin Abdullah in advance to ascertain the
•crei, e ary 1878, No. 173 . rea j indentions of the Turks, proposing
to follow him after occupying Kherj as a means of guarding against any attack
by Abdullah bin Feysal on his rear, or treachery on the part of the Turks in
Secret, February 1873, No. 174. h0Jlt • Fahad du] y . arrived at Hasa,
where he was treated with much considera
tion by Ferik Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , but the terms offered by the Turks were distasteful to
him, and lerik Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. would not agree to Saud’s occupation of Kherj.
153 . Soon afterwards Abdul Rahman, Saud’s youngest brother, arrived at
Secret, February 1873, No. 200 . HaSa » 311(1 Ha 3 i Ahmed, who found that
Saud could not be induced to come to
Hasa on the terms proposed by the Turks, determined to return to Baghdad
and complete the negotiation there, taking with him Abdul Rahman and
Farhan bin Kheirullah. It is difficult to understand how Saud, who was well
aware of the anxiety of the Turks to secure one of his sons as a hostage,
could have been so imprudent as to have allowed him to undertake this
journey.