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144.
Bidaa. and that British Naval Commanders havo Ion" sinco been authorized to
act at El Bidaa as at other places on t.ho El Katr Coast, in such a manner as
may be nrcessary to provent or punish disturbance of tho maritime peace *
* * ”
550. In 1895-96 wo interfered by force to prevont tho unauthorized occu­
pation of Zobarah by tho Albin Ali tribe
Secret E., October 1895, No*. G1—155.
„ 330—381. and a tbroatoned attack on Bahrein which
„ „ March 1896, „ 193-202. was instigatod by the Sheikh of Bidaa
„ „ AuRUit 18'JO, „ 1-21.
„ „ Hcptcuobir 189G, Noj. 1—7. and the Turks (sco Katar Precis).
„ „ Ootober 189G, Ko«. 7G—S3.
In a draft noto of November 1896 from the Loudon Foreign Office, the
Turkish Ambassador was informed that Bahrein is under British proteciion,
and that the British Government—
" cannot admit tho contention that the portion of the coast of tho Persian Gulf in
which Zobava is situated is within tho jurisdiction of the Ottoman empire.”
551. The above summary discloses tht policy of the British Government,
year by year, from 1879 to 1S96, in respect to Turkish claims to jurisdiction
on the Arabian Coast of the Persian Gulf.
652. The position recognized of the British Government at beginning of
the year 1897 may be summarized os follows:—
(а) The British Government was disposed to admit the sovereignty of
the Turks, though it is merely nominal at present, over the
Arabian Coast from Basrah to Katif (including the town of
Katif).
(б) The British Government absolutely declined to recognize the claims
of the Turks to sovereignty over any portion of the Katar Coast
line (including the town of Bidaa) from Katif to Odeid.
(c) The terrritory of theTrucial Chiefs extended from Odeid to Ras-al-
Khaimah, and the British Government would permit no interfer­
ence by the Turks or any other power with the Chiefs or their
territory.
:
There is no declared British protectorate over these Chiefs
■
or their territory.
; (d) The territory of the Sultan of Maskat which extends from Ras-al-
• va. n.v. h , . _ _ v, Khaimah to Ras-al-Had
,
.
Vide Treaty between England and France, Iso. .
,1__
xxiv, Ma.kat, page 73. Volume x. AitchUon. (and further southwards
nf Flve .Pr1c,mb,J°.10 t!‘e O'dcr in Council, fr0m Ras-al-Had to an un-
V
c111,0v of i»"d— XI-defined limit) is independ-
ent,* hut largely subject! to tho influence of tho British Gov­
ernment.
553. As regards Koweit itself and the surrounding territory our position, is
explained in the Precis of Koiceit affairs.
663A. In 1901 the Secretary of State raised the question of Turkish
jurisdiction south of Katif in connection
Secret E., April 1901, Noa. 6—10.
with the murder of the Bahreinese, and
the Viceroy telegraphed
** I cannot find that Turkish territorial jurisdiction south of Katif town has. been
explicitly recognized. But notwithstanding Ford*s despatch of 1893j it is ditfioult to dispute
that Katif dial riel extends to Ojair
I

G. C. Pratt, Simla. No. C-967 *. D.—11-12-04—30.