"ملف رقم: E/3. قطر - الشيوخ جاسم و أحمد آل ثاني ووفاة الشيخ جاسم في ١٩١٣" [و‎‎١‎٠] (٣٩٤/٣١)

No. 93, dated Bushire, tbe 26th April 1902 (Confidential).
From— Lietjtenant-Colonkl C. A. Kemball , Officiating Political Resident in the
Persian Gulf,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
T have the honour to report that the Assistant Political Agent at Bahrein
has recently received a message from Sheikh Ahmed-hin-Thani, brother of
Sheikh Jasim-bin-Thani of El-Katr, to the effect that, if he is taken under the
protection of His Majesty's Government, he will reside at any place in Katr
approved of by the Government, and further that he will hold himself re
sponsible to keep the seas round Katr free from pirates,/ind will co-operate with
His Majesty's Government and the Chief of Bahrein in any matters which may
concern them on the mainland. Air. Gaskin's letter to me on the subject is
forwarded herewith.
2. It is not necessary for me to discuss the status of El-Katr which is
well known to the Government of India, but I would invite a reference to the
letter (Secret) No. , 0 )5, dated 8th September 1893, from Lord Kimberley to the
Government ol India, which was forwarded under Foreign Department endorse
ment No. 2146 E., dated 12th October 1893. The policy of His Majesty's
Government with regard to the El-Katr coast is here clearly enunciated, and
liberty of action prescribed in the matter of "making such 'treaties with the
Chiefs of El-Katr as may be considered desirable".
3. The Government of India will be aware that for many years past the
state of affairs in El-Katr has not been satisfactory. Inland disorders and
piracies at sea have been of frequent occurrence, and a constant menace exists
to the peaee of Bahrein, in the maintenance of which His Majesty's Govern
ment is so intimately concerned. The prosperity of Bahrein is now on the
increase, and l am confident that, if some arrangement can be made whereby
the tribes inhabiting El-Katr may be brought under efficient control and the
adjoining seas rendered safe, the effect on the prosperity and trade of Bahrein
will be beneficial. Under existing conditions, all we can do towards obtaining
redress for our subjects or Bahreinis who may suffer loss by piracies, is to attach
such property of the Katr Chief as we may be able to lay our hands on in
Bahrein. This arrangement can never, in my opinion, 'be satisfactory and
may not always be feasible. Boat expeditions are rarely possible in the case
of piracies which occur off Katr, as it is often impossible to obtain full and
satisfactory information as to whence the pirates emanate. Moreover, in
many cases, it is believed that the crimes are committed by the l>eni Hajirs
who have no fixed place of residence and who cannot be dealt with by a boat
expedition.
4. I am, therefore, of opinion that, if I may be authorised to enter into an
arrangement with the Chief of Katr whereby his independence is recognised
and a promise of protection from interference by other Powers given to him, on
the condition that he is responsible for the maintenance of order in Katr and
for the prevention of piracies by sea, most satisfactory results may be expected
to follow. His Majesty's Government would not, I believe, be prepared to
allow the Turks to extend their authority to any other place on Katr besides
El-Bida which is already occupied by them, and, indeed, any such extension of
authority by the Turks would be greatly to be deplored, as disturbances both
on land and sea would surely follow, experience having shown that Turkish
# t ufficiently eflective to ensure the maintenance of order and to
suppress piracies. Undoubtedly the best arrangement would be to obtain the
consent of the Turkish Government to withdraw their garrison from El-Bida
where they are in reality only on sufferance, and which cannot be of any real
importance to them, but I fear that this is out of the question.