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133
N. O'Conor also wished to know the names of tlio persons who had committed
tho murdor, Tlio Secretary of State observed :—
“ In the event of the Turkish Government failing to obtain payment of an
adequate compensation or of their resorting to further 'procrastination, JJia
Majesty's Government are prepared to agree to the Sheikh of Bahrein being
allowed to exact reparation for himself from the Behaih. In this events
however, it would be necessary to take precautions to avoid raising as far as
possible, the question of Turkish sovereignty in these regions, and it toould be
desirable to inform the Sheikh that he must on no account proceed against the
JBehaih, while they were in the interior within Turkish jurisdiction."
501. This despatch of tho Secretary of State was sent to tho Political
JM No 70 Resident for. necessary action, but the
portion italicised was not to be communi
cated to the Chief of Bahrein, as the status of the Agency and of the arrange
ments to be made for the customs administration in Bahrein were under con
sideration.
502. There was then further correspondence between the Poreign Office
and Sir N. O’Conor, which was forwarded
Ibid No. 73.
to us with the Secretary of State’s despatch
No. 16, dated 1st April 1901. Prom this it appeared that according to the account
given by the Turkish Government, a number of the offending tribe, probably
including those responsible for the murder, had been killed in an encounter
with the Turkish forces. The Turkish Officers were reported to have been
unable to obtain compensation from the Beliaih tribe. In these circumstances,
Hi9 Majesty’s Government decided to instruct Sir N. O’Conor to inform the
Porte that as they have been unable to obtai?t compensation from the JBehaih,
His Majesty's Government can no longer dissuade Sheikh of Bahrein from
taking his own measures, but that they will use their pest efforts to ensure that he.
shall take no action as long as the JBehaih are in territory recognized as Turkish.
Sir N. O’Conor was instructed accordingly
ia,dNo m in the Poreign Office despatch No. 132,
dated 12th April 1901.
603. As regards the last proviso in these instructions it was ascertained
and reported by Major Cox (telegram
8 " ° J dated 14th June 1901) that the offending
tribe had never left the territory of Hasa and Katar and was then in the
latter district.
601. Major Cox also submitted Mr. Gaskin’s report regarding the persons
concerned in the murder and such of them
Ibid No. 85. Enolosuro.
as had been killed in an encounter with
the Turks, No. 135, dated 11th June 1901, from which the following para
graphs are extracted:—
“ I am informed by the Chief’s messenger that the leaders of the raid were Rashid-bin
Mckarih, Mutib-al-Munnakhas, Mohsia and Talib, sons'of All-bin-Noman, nephews of Rashid
bin-Mekarih, and Rashid and Mohsin, sons of Dewairis-al-Haraaidi, also nephews of Rashid-bin-
Mekarih; that Rashid-bin-Mekarih and Rasbid-bin-Dewairis-al-Hamnidi were killed in the
attack on Sheikh Selraao and Mohsin-bin-Dowairis-al-Hamaidi was wounded in the thigh on
the same occasion, but subsequently recovered. Tho other members of the raiding party were
Bohaih tribesmen whoso names have not yet been procured.
As regards the persons mentioned in the communication from the Porte to His Majesty's
Embassy at Constantinople, I would vonturp to report that tho only membor of the Mekarih
family killed by the Turks sinco tho murder was Ibn Retaiban, a nephew of Rashid-bin
Mekarih, on tho 10th September 1902 at Z.irnooga about 14 miles south of llofuf.
This youth was not concerned in the outrage. Ali-bin-Momdub was a Behaih
tribesmon and was killed in tbo first week of October 1902, in the incident mentioned in the
entry dated 13th Ootobor in this Office diary for 18th Ootobcr 1902. These two men were
not concerned in tho attack at Tinofa. Ibn Ketifa is also a Bobaihi and is known to bo
alivo and is with his tribo. Mnhouied-bin-Nejdan, Ilassan Choiiinet and Tori tor do not
appear to bo known os having been members of tho Behaih tribo. Though tho actual
number of tho attacking party is unknown, it is generally stated that it was composed of over
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