Page 298 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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CHAPTER EIGHTH.

(III).—Turkish Responsibilities and jurisdiction for the purpose of
suppressing piracies in Katif waters.

1878-1881.

401. Reference baa been made already to tlio question of Turkish juris­
diction on tlio Katif and Katar coasts
Secret E., December 1978, Nos. 2*11.
for the purpose of suppressing piracies
recently committed on Bahrein waters. Tlio question was raised in the Secre­
tary of Stato’s despatch No. 42, dated 17th October 1S78, and tlio opinion of
the Government of India invited on the point. This involved the question of
the demarcation of the Turkish sphere of territorial jurisdiction on that coast
aud the nature of the responsibility for order which should be held to devolve
on the two Governments. On theso point? an expression of Colonel Ross*
opinion was called for in Foreign Department No.7 255 C.l\, dated 17th De­
cember 1878. Colonel Nixon, also the Political Agent in Turkish Arabia, was
told in a letter of the same date, that the
Rc.idont, Builiiro’sNo. 39, (luted 20th January
187H. Government of India would bo glad to.
18-9A'Turk ,h Ar>bin’ dalcd 12tl‘ Januftr* receive any statement of his views which
he might, desire to submit. Tlio replies
receivod from both officers, are summarised below :—
405. Colonel Ross found the same difficulty which troubled the Govern­
ment, of India (see paragraph 319 above) in understanding the precise character
of the reference made by Colonol Nixon to the British Ambassador at Cons­
tantinople. He points out that we had not beeu engagod in any disputes
with the tribes of Jlasa ; that interference in their inter-tribal affairs had beon
avoided ; and that every effort had been made to hold tlio Turks responsible
for disorder in Turkish districts. lie thon observed that if Colonel Nixon in
writing of El-llasa has intended to includo Katar, a mistake had been made.
The Turks have subjugated El-Hasa, and their military occupation of that
province had involved the establishment of their authority at Katif and
Ojair. In Katar, however, their authority was acquired at a later period and
in a different manner, viz., by the invitatiou of the local chiefs of Bidaa ;
and with the exception of Bidaa and the immediate neighbourhood, no
steps have hitherto been taken to establish Turkish authority on the Katar coast.
Strictly speaking, therefore, the continuity of the Turkish authority terminates
at some point near Ojair, and from this point to El-Biclaa there is a tract
whore their supremacy has not been established, and which includes the peninsula
on which Zybarah is situate and which is headed by Ras Reccan. But having
explained this distinction, Colonel Ross goes on to say that tlio Turkish Government
might with some reason argue that ‘ their present actual position on this coast does
involve, constructively, domination over the entire tract lying between Ojair
and Bidaa, provided, of course, that no British rights or obligations exist with
reference to this particular tract ‘ of a nature to constitute an obligation to
oppose the full establishment of Turkish authority therein.’ The conclusions
at which ho arrived wore—
r< (1) That failing the exercise of British interference there is no obstacle in tho way
of completion of the chain of Turkish occupation of El-Katr as far as El-
fiidaa.
11 (2) That the British Government is not bound by anycxisiing engagements to
oppose that proceeding.
“ (3) That assuming that the British Government 6oe no sufficient ground for re-
asf-uming the supervision and control over the portion of oonst in question, it
would b*i best that the Tuikish Government should undertake the responsibility
and take effectual measures to maintain good ordor,
“ But there is a point, of course, beyond whioh it would bo impossible, consistently with
the due inaiuienaucc of British rights and performance of our duties, to permit the further