ملف رقم ١٦٠ لسنة ١٩٠٣ "الخليج الفارسي: قطر؛ تعيين مديرين أتراك؛ مسألة معاهدة الحماية مع قطر" [و‎‎٣‎٨‎٢] (٨٦٠/٧٦٨)

Departments are reqvestcd, if they suspect that there is any mistake in this telegram, to ccmmunicate
immediately with the Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
COPY OF TELEGRAM
FROM
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Dated
Keceiyed at London Office
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From Viceroy, \Qth January 1903.
P. —FI Katr. In continuation of my telegram of \0th instant. Kemball,
with whose opinion I concur, considers it necessary in view of our relations
with Bahrein and Abu Uthabi to prevent the Turks occupying Zobara and
Odeid. As to former place, see letter from Foreign Office to India Office, of
Fist November 1896, enclosmg draft Note to Turkish Ambassador. Latter
place is regarded as appanage of Abu Uthabi. From India Office letter
to Foreign Office, dated 2%th March 1893, I understand that the text of our
agreement o/*1892 with the Trucial Chiefs was communicated to the Fo?'te.
Kemball cannot identify Dikre. With regard to Amair island, which is north
of Katif , roe are not concerned with its occupation by the Turks. Their occu
pation of Zobara and FI Odeid would deal serious blow to our whole position
in the Gtdf and would gravely compromise the states of Bahrein, and I
sincerely trust that it will be prevented by His Majesty's Government. With
reference to your Despatch of 5th September last, No. 37, Sheikh Jassim-bin-
thani is reported by Kemball to be the recognised Chief of Katr. He is
styled Kaimakan by the Turks, but he repudiates the title. His brother,
Ahmed-bin-thani, is however the de facto Chief and is regarded as heir to
Sheikh Jassim, who is over eighty years of age. In November 1899 Ahmed
approached Colonel Meade on the subject of British protection and asked for
permission to occupy Odeid. I think it will be wise to enter into an agree
ment with him in order to prevent Turkish designs, but should His Majesty's
Government not be prepared to take this step at once, which will perhaps depend
on attitude of the Turks, he might be told that we prefer to wait until he
succeeds to the chief ship on the demise of his brother.
A A. ' > / ' '