ملف ١٩٢٦/٣٩٣٩ الجزء ٦ "تنقيح معاهدات أيتشيسون. قسم الخليج الفارسي." [و‎‎٣‎٠‎٠] (٨١٨/٣٥)

6
PERSIAN GULF— Nejd.
repeate,! As no reply wae receded within the prescribed time, the boats
of he ff,«,h/?ycr destroyed a fort in Katif harbour and a war-Nssel but
met with a check at Demam: the forts at Sur were also destroyed, and
the vessels qf the Jenebeh tribe were confiscated.
'Amir Faisal bin Turki died towards the close of 1865. His son and
successor, Abdulla, sent an envoy in 1866 to the British Resident to
discuss matters, with a written Declaration (No. I) that he would not
injure British subjects within his dominions, or attack the territories of
the Arab tribes in alliance with the British Government, especiallv those
of Muscat, and would limit his demands on that State to receiving the
customary tribute. These assurances were considered satisfactory, and
the matter was allowed to drop.
Abdulla bin Faisal ha'd been virtually ruler of Nejd for many years
during the old age and blindness of his father. Soon after his accession
a struggle for power commenced between him and his brother Saud,
which ended early in 1871 in the defeat apd flight of Abdulla and the
succession of Saud. Abdulla bin Faisal appealed for assistance to the
Turks, who despatched an expedition from Baghdad for the purpose of
supporting him and restoring tranquillity in Nejd. These proceedings
were accompanied by explicit assurances that the Porte had" no inten-
iion of obtaining supremacy over Bahrein, Muscat, or the maritime
tribes, or of undertaking any naval operations. During 1871 the Turks
succeeded in possessing themselves of the district and port of A1 Hasa, and
apparently intended to occupy the country permanently. Abdulla bin
Faisal, finding that his restoration to power was not included in the
Turkish scheme, escaped from their camp, but was unable to cope with
the superior forces of his brother Saud, who occupied Riadh and the
heart of the Wahabi country. Early in 1872 Saud bin Faisal, having
failed to procure the arbitration of the British Government, or an as
surance that they would protect his territories from attacks by sea, opened
negotiations with the Turks, but with no other result than the 1 detention’
of his brother Abdur Rahman at Baghdad as a hostage. Communica
tions also passed between Abdulla and the Turks, but without anv definite
result. The Turkish policy in Nejd afterwards underwent a change, the
regular troops were withdrawn, Beziah bin Areyr, of the friendly Beni
Khalid tribe, was appointed Governor of A1 Hasa, and a police force
was raised for the defence of the frontier. Abdur Rahman bin Faisal
was detained at Baghdad till August 1874; on Ms release he remained
for a short time at Bahrein and then proceeded to the mainland, where
he raised the Arab tribes in favour of Saud against the Turkish authori
ties at Hasa; he met with considerable success and a large Turkish force
|iad to be sent against him. During these operations Saud bin Faisal
died, and the contest was for a while carried on by his brother Ab’dur
itahman, In 1878-79 the sons of Sand bin Faisal effected a coalition,