"ملف 10/3 VI الامتياز النفطي بقطر" [ظ‎‎٧‎١] (٤٨١/١٥٤)

18
from the Wahabi Amir, on the advice of the Resident decided to pay it. In 1853
the Government of Bombay were authorised to afford every obstacle to an attack
on Bahrein by the Wahabis (who were now nominally subject to the Turkish
Government). In 1859 a Wahabi attack was again averted by British intervention,
but the Amir formally asserted his authority over Bahrein, declaring that he was
himself a vassal of tbe Sultan of Turkey (see paragraphs 91 and 105 below); in
18(31 it proved necessary l-o bring pressure to bear on tbe Sheikh to discontinue a
blockade of the Wahabi ports which he had instituted, and, later in the same year,
to take forcible action for the removal of the Bahreini pretender from Qatar,
despite the support accorded to him by the Wahabis.
Lor. I,
1010-1.
Lor. I,
1110-1.
Bagdad Ir.
15, 18.4.6()
16, 7.5.66.
Koweit and the Wahabis, 1840-1870.
89. In 1841 the ex-Amir Khalid took refuge in Koweit.
In 1863 relations
Nejd Precis,
§67.
between the Sheikh of Koweit and the then Wahabi Amir were friendly, but no
tribute w T as paid to the Wahabis. In 1866 the Wahabi Amir, 41 who maintained an
agent at Koweit for political purposes, as his father too had done even so early as
1851," was prepared to assist the Sheikh in a quarrel between the latter and the
Turks.
The Wahabis and Turkey , 1840-1870.
Wahabi Tribute to Turkey.
90. In 1862 ihe Oonsul-General at Bagdad stated that since the Egyptian
invasion of Nejd in 1839-40 " Amir Feisul has remained tributary to the Turkish
authorities at Mecca, his tribute being regarded probably as an offering to the head
of the religion."
Amir "professes to be a Turkish Dependent, J 855.
Turkish Claim to Suzerainty, 1862.
91. In 1841 the Porte, having received presents from the puppet Amir Khalid,
advanced claims to authority over ISiejd and appointed him Wali of Nejd on their
behalf. In 1851 the Amir was undervstood to pay tribute to the Porte, despite the
fact that " accredited envoys of the Pasha of Kgypt were present in his camp and
the Wahabi agent at Koweit professedly supported Egyptian interests. ' In 1855
(see paragraph 105 below) the Amir stated in terms, in writing, that he was a
dependent of the Turkish Government and that the dependence of Nejd on Turkey
had been made clear to Mehemet Ali in 1839. In 1859, again in writing, he
referred to treaties between Nejd and the Porte (paragraph 106 below). In 1862
a Turkish protest against the bombardment of Damman in Qatar, on the ground that,
as lying within the territories of "Feisul Beg the Kaimakam of Nejd," it was ''part
of the hereditary dominions of the Sultan," was rejected (paragraph 108 below).
Wahabi Appeal to Turkey, 1866.
92. In 1866 the Amir sent an envoy to Bagdad complaining of English aggression ,
upon the coast of Nejd and its dependencies, and soliciting Turkish intervention '
against its recurrence, and the Turkish Wali raised the matter official^ with the
British Consul-General, and " loudly asserted the suzerainty of the Sultan over
Nejd." But in the following month the envoy was abruptly dismissed; and the
Consul-General conjectured, in the light of further discussion with the Wali, that
the explanation was that the Amir, " when urged by the authorities of Bussorah to
be more explicit in his communications, not only evaded compliance, but signified
his repudiation of Turkish supremacy by despatching envoys to Bushire to
treat with the Resident, while on the other hand the Ottoman Ministry at
Constantinople . . . probably pointed out the inexpediency of extending to more
remote tribes and principalities in Arabia that condition of quasi dependence which
is found only too onerous and embarrassing in the case of the Bedouin tribes. . • •
98. Nothing further of importance emerges in regard to the relations between
Turkey and the Wahabi Amirs between 1865 and 1870, but thereafter the Turks
took immediate advantage of the dissensions which had broken out in the ruling
family, conquered Hasa in 1871, and re-established themselves in that Province and
in Nejd.