Page 56 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

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O’Conor, who had been consulted and had
recommended in a despatch dated the 20tli March,
100(1, that any such warning should he conveyed
direct to Bin Saoud, and not through the agency
ol' the Sheikh of Kowcit or tho Sultan of Muscat.
Sir N. O’Conor further suggested that Bin
Saoud, in tho event of his visiting the coast,
should he met by a British vessel of war at one
of the places which he proposed to visit, and
told that no tampering with tho engagements
and Conventions of the Trucial Chiefs would he
permitted.
In convoying tho decision of Ills Majesty’s Mr. Morlo/n
Government to tho Government of India, the
Secretary of State wrote as follows in a despatch
dated the 13th April, 1900 :—
“ IIis Majesty's Government accept tho view
that a warning to tho Amir would he necessary
if ho wero to carry out his reported intention.
They consider, however, that it would he better
that such warning should ho conveyed to him
only in the event of his appearing upon tho
coast, aud that it should then he conveyed to him
directly as proposed by Sir N. O’Conor.”

Bin Saoud’s reply to Mubarak’s letter of
advice was communicated to the Political Agent,
Kowcit, on tho 25th February, 1906. Major Major Cox to
Cox described it as a 11 very courteous response.” j,u<Jj°n,mont of
The terms of Bin Saoud’s letter, jus translated April 5,19u6.
from the vernacular, are obscure, hut his
apparent object was to disclaim any intention
of objectionable action. As a matter of fact,
Bin Saoud did not visit the Pirate Coast.
In April 1900 news was received of the defeat
and death of Bin Rashid at the hands of his
rival, Bin Saoud.
On the lGth September, 1906, Major Cox Major Cox
again raised the question of entering into closer ^
relations with the interior of Arabia. He drew Sop'ember 16,
1906.
attention to overtures that had been made hv
and on behalf of Bin Saoud with a view to the
establishment of a closer connection between
himself and the British Government, and recom­
mended that the opportunity should he takcu to
come to terms with tho "Wahabec Chief on the
following grounds:—

1. That overtures had been made at various
times by Bin Saoud himself, and by Sheikh