"دليل الخليج. الجزء الأول. المواد التاريخية والسياسية. ملخص عن شؤون قطر، ١٨٧٣-١٩٠٤." [و‎‎٢‎٣] (٩٢/٤٥)

35
security on the seas^ and prevention of piracy, it appears to me highly important that the
settlement of Nasir-bin-Mubarak and his dependents at Zobarah should be forbidden and
prevented. If this view is taken by His Excellency the Viceroy in Council I respectfully
solicit instructions in this sense. It would be necessary, in the first instance, to warn Nasir-
bin-Mubarak and Jasim -bin-Muhamniad Thani of this resolve of the British Government and
if the warning were disregarded. Her Majesty's ships would have to be instructed to enforce
the decision of Goverument.•' ,
125. The Political Resident was told aocordingly to warn Sheikh Jasim
and Nasir-bin-Mnbarak that no settlement
Pro. No. 94 of ditto. gobarah would be permitted. A tele
graphic reference was also made to the Secretary of State, but the reply received
from the India Office was—" It is questionable whether any remonstrance
should be made against a Turkish occupation of the place."
Turkish measures for establishing their jurisdiction on a firmer basis
on the Arab coast. Increase of Turkish forces in Katar, 1888-89.
126. It appeared from the reports of Mr. Robertson, the Assistant Political
Agent, Basra, (a) No. 122 of 12th March
External A, February 1889, Nos. 336-346. ^ NOi X35 0 f the 22nd March 1888,
that Nafiz Pasha, tbe Turkish Governor-General of Basra, had early in that year
visited Katif and Katar with the object of taking measures for the suppression
of piracy in the Persian Gulf, and that he bad taken pledges from Sheikh
Jasim -bin-Thani of Katar, and Muhammad-bin-Abdul Wahab of Darain, for the
security of the coasts and waters within their influence and jurisdiction, and
had left with Jasim -bin-Thani a steam -launch and crew to be used in patrolling
the coasts. His Excellency also provided coal depots at Ras-el-Tanurah and
Bidaa. As a further measure for the security of the waters of the Persian
Gulf, the Governor-General of Basra also established military posts at Bidaa,
and a complete battalion of infantry, numbering about 400 men, was subse
quently despatched from Basrah to form garrisons for the above-mentioned
places. The garrisons were, however, placed there with the ostensible object
of carrying out the wishes of Her Majesty's Government for the effectual
suppression of piracy on the west coast of the Persian Gulf.
127. These facts were reported by the British Ambassador at Constantino
ple to the Foreign Office, and on reference having been made to the India Office
the following opinion was expressed by the Secretary of State for India :
<• Lord Cross thinks it may be sufficient for tbe present to acquaint Sir W. White, if the
pro. No. 345 of External A. February 1889. Nos. Marquess of Salisbury sees no objection thereto,
386-346. that her Majesty s Government do not consider
thai the Porte is in effective occupation of the Arabian coast leyond Eaiif, and that they
adhere to' the declaration made in 1883 that the claim of the Porte to rights of sovereignty
over the Katar coast is not admitted by Her Majesty's Government. But as there is no
reason to anticipate that any practical result would be attained by provoking a discussion with
the Turkish Government as to the extent of its jurisdiction on that coast, it is undesirable to
raise the question at the present time."
128. The Porte wished now to give a plain indication of its ^ determination
to assert its jurisdiction in Katar. In
1889, July 1889, Sir W. White (Her Majesty's
Ambassador at Constantinople) received a pro-memoria from the Turkish Eoreign
Office to the effect that the troops in Katar were to be reinforced from the
Baghdad Army Corps. In forwarding this pro-memoria Sir W. White observed—
" It is known that His Majesty the Sultan uncompromisingly asserts his rights over the
Pro. No. 134 of Secret E.. September 1889, Nos. Kata* coast, and Her Majesty's o G ^ V f ^
128-137, Porei^n Office dospatcli No, 338, dated 5tli Nov-
ember 1889, previously quoted) decided a few months ago that it was not desirable to provoke a
discussion with the Turkish Government as to the extent of its jurisdiction on that coast.
Your Lordship is also aware that up till very recently Her Majesty s Indian Government had
^erv strong suspicions that ibn Rashid, the Emir of Nejd, contemplated warlike operations
aeainst Oman, and it was feared that this movement would be supported by Ottoman troops
from Hassa and Katar. The Ottoman Government has at various times strenuously denied
any such intention, and I gather from Colonel Ross's despatch Nn. 372 29tl1 ^ecember
1888, that it was currently reported that the Emir of Jebal Shammer had abandoned is
intention of invading Oman. Whether or no Ibn Rashid ever had the intentions imputed to