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483. From a further report of Mr. Gaskin's No. 9, dated the 27th January
J901, it appears, that Sheikh Sclraan and
Secret E., April 10J1, Noj. 5*10.
Ilia party went to the mainland for no
other purpose than that of hunting customary for them to do in that season of
the year. The members of the ruling family of Bahrein every year at tlio end
of the autumn mako up hawking parlies and visit Katar, Thahran (the country I
botween Katif and Ojair) and Lingah, and in accordance with this praotice
Sheikh Selman, in November 1900, elected to go to Thahran, and others at
about the same time went to Katar and Lingali. Tko Khalifa family, had in
fact no blood-feud with any tribo residing in Turkish territory.
434. The question was then raised by the Foreign Office whether the placo
Af..niQM \v» r. m
oocrot A ['I u iJ01| oOj. o*10. whore the murder occurred was within
* » • . •
• i • »•
•
Turkish Jurisdiction. Attoution was in-
vited to the India Office letter, dated the 2nd November 1888, in which it was
proposed that Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople should bo informed
that Her Majesty’s Government did not consider that the Porte was in effective
occupation of the Arabian Coast beyond Katif. In 1893 Sir C. Ford informed
the Porte that Her Majesty’s Government while admitting the sovereignty
of the Sultan from Basrah to Katif considered that the coast running
to the south of that place icas looked upon as dcbateablc land. The Viceroy on
being consulted, replied by telegram on 7tli March 1901 :—
u I cannot find that Turkish Territorial Jurisdiction south of Katif town has been
explicitly recognized. But notwithstanding Ford's Despatch of 1893, it is difficult to dispute
that Katif district extends to Ojair.”
It was also mentioned in the telegram on the authority of Mr. Wratislaw
that the Vali of Basrah had ordered the arrest and punishment of tho murder­
ers of Sheikh Selman, &c., and that in these circumstances action by Her
Majesty's Government seemed unnecessary. The Foreign Office had, however,
in the meantime addressed the Ambassador on tho subject and asked for his
views.
485. Sir N. O'Conor pointed out the inndvisibility of acknowledging
e a . _ „ „ Turkish jurisdiction in a place where it
ecrc unc ..o«. .-i7. was so ineffectively exercised. He there­
fore proposed awaiting further instructions and was told to defer making
any representations on the subject to the Porto until tho rosult of Mr.
AVratislaw’s representation to tho Vali of Basrah was known.
48G. In July 1901 we were informed, through tho Resident, that the Vali's
attitude was unsatisfactory. Ho replied
Secret E., August 1901, Noe. 220-22(1, (No. 220).
to tho Consul’s remarks with nonchalance,
and when lie was reminded that the Sheikh of Bahrein might take the matter
into his own hands, if the Turkish authorities did not do their duty, his answer
was “ that, after all, the occurrence was merely an act of reprisal for a
previous crime committed by natives of Bahrein. It was then explained to
him that “ tho previous murder roferred to had been paid for iu the customary
manner by the Shoikh of Bahrein and could not bo quoted as justification for
the assassinalion of Sheikh Selman.”
487. The Sheikh of Bahrein too, at about this time, requested to be
allowed to prosecute his revenge on a
Ibid. No. 221.
party of tho offending tribe who were
encamped within striking distance on the mainland, hut he was warned against
making any such attempt by the Assistant Political Agont.
488. In September 1901, the Foroign Office authorised the Ambassador at
Secret e., March loos, Noi. 78-107, (No. 93 Constantinople “ press for the arrest and
Enciosuro). punishment of the fugitives wliilo they arc
in tho interior of Arabia,” as, whilo they were there within Turkish territory,
tho request would not prejudioo tho quostion of Turkish sovereignty on tho
south coast of Katif.
1
469. In October 1901, at the request of tho Resident, sanction was given
by the Government of India for a gunboat
0 to bo sent to Katif in order to stimulate
tho Turkish authorities to greater activity in exacting reparation for the murder

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