Page 51 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

39
or dono at any time to commit the British Government directly or indirectly to
defend him or to ubo their influence to prevent attacks being mado on him by
Boa: if no such obligation existed the Resident was to answer Saud'a letter in
general terms pointing out that ho was mistaken in supposing that the British Gov­
ernment had undertaken to defend him from the sea, and adding a hope that he
would soon be able to come to an amicable
Folitlcal, February 1874, No. 110.
understanding with the Turkish Govern-
meut.
149. The report thus called for, showed that Saud was not a party to
the Maritime Truce, and that the British Government had been in no way
committed to protocfc him by sea. The answors of tho Resident to bis letters
bad beon writion in general torms, and it was probable that the expressions
in his letter of tho 18th May 1873 “ were prompted merely by the vague hopes
and wishes so often ontortainod by semi-barbarous Chiefs in similar situa­
tions.” Later communications from Siud showed that he had been undeceived
as to the policy of the British Government and merely hoped for its good
wishes and friendship. Under these cir­
Political, February 1874, No. SIS.
cumstances His Excellency in Council
left it to the discretion of tho Resident to answer Saucl's letter of the 18th May
1873 either then or afterwards in general terms expressive of good will;
should ho again revert to tho existence of any such'assurance of security,
matters were to be explained to him in such a way as to remove any existing
misunderstanding which ho might display and prevent the possibility of mis­
understanding in the future.

XXXI.—Saud’s negotiations with the Turks, 1872.
160. To return to Saud’s negotiations with tho Turks, tho terms of this
understanding were reported to be his
8«ortt, May 1873, Koi. 80-83.
recognition as Chief of Nejd on the con­
dition of his paying tho Turkish war expenses and tho same yearly tribute
that Foysal had paid. Two of his sons were to be sent to Baghdad as hostages,
he was to consider himself as a tributary of the Porte and not to exercise any
authority on tho sea-board. If these terms did not suit him, he was to come
to Hnsa when the Turkish Government would restore to him his father’s pro­
perty and grant him a pension of a thousand dollars per monsem: these con­
ditions’would be fulfilled six months after his acceptance of them and on
ascertaining that “he had served faithfully and given up all thoughts of
opposition." Both parties professed their anxiety for a meeting to settle the
terms of the arrangement, and letters were constantly passing between
Ferik Pasha, Governor of Ilasa, and Saud. The prevalent belief was that
the Pasha’s object in arranging this meeting was to effect the capture of
Saud, hut the latter’s suspicions were amused by the imprisonment of his friend,
Sheikh Roliim, Chief of tho El Ejmnn tribe, by the Turks ; nothing was there­
fore settled, and Eerik Pasha was shortly afterwards recalled leaving behind
him a character for leniency in his dealings'with the people which for the time
went far towards reconciling them to Turkish rule; but he was succeeded by
another Eerik Pasha, whose oppressive conduct joined to the exactions of
the soldiery very soon obliterated the
Stcret, April 1878, No. 76.
favourable impression made by His
predecessor.

XXXII-—First Mission of Haji Ahmed to Baghdad, 1872.
161. Saud, however, did not abandon his hopes of effecting 6ome settle­
ment, with the Turkish authorities, and aftor his failuro to secure the arbitra­
tion of the British Govornmont addressed Haji Ahmed Khan, formerly
Minister at Maskat, and who was then at
Soerol, Angait 1873, No. 179.
Bushire, on the subject. Haji Ahmed
communioatod Saud’a wishes to the Resident and produoted a letter from