Page 312 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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CHAPTER EIGHTH.

(IV) Piracies in Katif and Bahrein waters in 1883.
436. In 1883 tbo Beni Hajir Bedouins met a Bahrein vessel cloao to the
Katif coast and plundorcd it (ltcaidont’s
A. Political E., Aaguit 1833, No. 818.
Roport dated 14th June 18S3). This rob­
ber tribe had no boats or dwellings on the coast and could only bo checked on
land. The Resident in tho Gulf remarked that, as tho depredations of the tribo
were committed from “ districts uudor Turkish occupation’*, the Turkish Go­
vernment was responsible in the mattor. The Government of India morely for­
warded the papers to the Secretary of State.
437. Tho India Office then addressod the Foreign Offico and drew atten­
tion to tho Resident's remarks about tho
A, Political E„ Fabruarj 1834, No. 178.
responsibility of the Turkish Government.
438. Shortly after his first report, the Resident sont another (dated tho 26th
July 1883). This showed that four slaves,
A, Political E., October 1883, No. 13.
who formed part of the plunder carried off
by the Beni Hajir robbers, had boon rcstorod by the Turkish authorities of
Katif. Tho Government of India forwardod tho papers to the Secretary of
State, and noticed that, in thi3 instance tho Turkish authorities had taken
action.
439. The Secretary of State sont on tho papers to tho Foreign Office. Mean-
whilo the Foreign Office had communi­
A, Political E., rebrukrj 1884, No*. 179—181.
cated with Her Majesty’s Ambassador at
Constantinople on the subject of Colonol Ross’ first report (dated the 14th June
1883) of the robbery. His Excellency stated in reply that the Turkish version
of the occurrence was quite different from that given by Colonel Ross, and
that the Vali of Baghdad would he instructed to havo tho* case thoroughly in­
vestigated again.
440. When the Foreign Office had received this report from Her Majesty's
Ambassador and tho second report from
Ibid, No 181.
Colonel Ross, Lord Granville proposed to
the India Office that he should ** inform the Earl of DuOerin that Her Majes­
ty's Government are of opinion that the matter should be allowed to drop, as
they do not consider it desirable to raise the question of Turkish sovereignty
over these coasts.”
441. The India Office replied that “ four of the men who were carried off
ibid. No. i8i. upon the occasion in question having
been recovered and sent to Bahrein, His
Lordship concurs in Lord Granville’s proposal that tho matter should be allowed
to drop.
442. Thereupon Her Majesty’s Ambassador was informed by telegram—
"Piracy by Bedouins in Persian Gulf. Matter should bo allowed to drop as it is
Hid, No. 188. not desirable to raise question of Turkish so­
vereignty.”