IOR/L/PS/10/386

This volume contains part 3 of the subject 'Persia Gulf'. It concerns a treaty between Britain and El Katr (also spelled Katar in the file) [Qatar].

In a copy of a telegram to the Secretary of State for India, dated 13 August 1913, the Viceroy of India acknowledges the former's wish to negotiate a treaty as soon as Britain's convention with the Turkish government comes into force [the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913, which was never ratified]. However, the Viceroy suggests that, following the recent death of Shaikh Jasim [Shaikh Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī, Ruler of Qatar], any action should be deferred until his successor, Shaikh Abdullah [Shaikh ‘Abdullāh bin Jāsim Āl Thānī], has established himself as ruler.

The volume contains the following:

• a draft agreement between the British Government and Shaikh Abdullah;
• British officials' views on the perceived attitude adopted by Bin Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal Āl Sa‘ūd] towards the British authorities and British interests, following his recent settlement with the Turkish government;
• discussion on the importance of concluding negotiations with Bin Saud prior to completing a treaty with El Katr;
• the ejection of the Turkish garrison from El Katr;
• discussion as to whether to retain an arms traffic clause in the draft agreement, following the near collapse of arms traffic during the first year of the First World War;
• an account of treaty negotiations between the Political Agent, Kuwait (Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey, accompanied by the Bahrain Political Agent Major Terence Humphrey Keyes) and Shaikh Abdullah;
• a copy of the final treaty, signed on 3 November 1916 and ratified on 23 March 1918.

The volume features the following principal correspondents:

• Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Percy Zachariah Cox, and Major Stuart George Knox, officiating Resident in Cox's absence);
• Viceroy of India [Charles Hardinge; Frederic John Napier Thesiger];
• Secretary of State for India (Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe; Joseph Austen Chamberlain; Edwin Samuel Montagu);
• Foreign Office;
• Secretary to the Government of India's Foreign and Political Department [Alfred Hamilton Grant];
• Political Agent, Kuwait (Lieutenant-Colonel William George Grey).

The part includes a divider that gives the subject and part number, the year the subject file was opened, the subject heading, and a list of correspondence references contained in the part by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.