IOR/L/PS/18/B101

The memorandum, written by Francis Leveson Bertie of the Foreign Office, 15 October 1893, discusses questions relating to the Guttur or El-Katr [Qatar] following rumours that the Ottoman Government intended to separate England from the Sheikhs on the Arabian Coastline of the Persian Gulf that had signed treaty agreements with the British Government.

The questions discussed include:

• the actions of Jasim bin Muhammad bin Thani, Kaïmakan (Shaikh of Qatar) in opposing the authority of the Vali of Bussorah [Basra];
• the Porte's (Government of the Ottoman Empire) desire to punish the Shaikh, and the British Resident in the Persian Gulf (Colonel Adelbert Cecil Talbot)'s desire to mediate between the two parties which the Porte objected too;
• attempts by the Vali of Bussorah to bring about a conflict with Shaikh Jasim and Colonel Talbot's recommendation that the El Katr Chief's be reinstated on an independent footing and the 1868 treaty be renewed.

Also referred to in the memorandum are:

• A complaint made by the Porte of the intervention of British Consular authorities in matters concerning the inhabitants of Bahrein [Bahrain], and a reminder to the Porte that Bahrein was under British protection;
• Work undertaken by Ottoman Engineers to build three military guard posts at Fao [Al Fāw], which were considered to be a potential threat to British commerce on the Shat-el-Arab [Shaţţ al ‘Arab].