Page 103 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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08. In a despatch written on tho next day, Sir N. O'Conor reported that it
had been represented to him by Anthopoulo Pasha that the Sultan was much
disturbed by his (Sir N. O’Conor’s) language with regard to Kowcit, which
appeared to indicate a dcsiro on the part of Her Majesty’s Government to inter­
fere with llis Majesty's liberty of action in Turkish territory. Sir N. O’Conor
roplied that it would be bettor to leave no door open for misunderstanding, and
hu repeated his language of the previous day, emphasising the points that Her
Majesty’s Government had no aggressivo intentions in those parts, and that it
depended on the Ottoman Government not to raise an intricate and unpleasant
question without necessity. Ho added that Her Majesty's Government were in
most friendly relations with the Sheikh of Kowcit and could not pass without
notice any hostile action taken against him ; but he avoided the direct issue of
tho territorial dependency of the Sheikh.

99. In a further despatch Sir N. O’Conor reported that ho had had a
further conversation with Tew file Pasha, in which he again impressed upon
the Foreign Minister the desirability of not now raising a question about
Koweit, reminding him that in 1SS3 Lord Granville had informed Rustom
Pasha that the Turkish right of sovereignty over tho Katar Coast had nevor
been admitted by Her Majesty’s Government. Towfik Pasha agreed in consi­
dering it inexpedient to raise this awkward question. The language held b^
Sir N. O’Conor was approved by Her Majesty’s Government.
100. In his despatch No. 434 of the 13th September, Sir N. O’Conor
reported the steps taken by the Consul at Basrah iu fulfilment of the promise
that Her Majesty’s Government would do what they could to protect the estates
of tho Kowoit Chiefs at Fao. Mr. Wralislaw had on the 2Gth July, in accord­
ance with instructions conveyed to him by Sir N. O'Conor in July, expressed
to the Vali a hope that an equitable settlement would soon be arrived at of
tho rival claims of Sheikh Mubarak and of tho sons of the lato Sheikh, it
being a matter in regard to which Her Majesty’s Government wore not indiffer­
ent. From the conversation which followed, it appeared that Mubarak had made
totally inadequate proposals ; and the Consul was of opinion that he had been
treated by the Porte with “ surprising ” tenderness, considering that he had
declined to submit to the jurisdiction of the Turkish Courts, within which
tho estates in question undoubtedly lie, and had for three years appropriated
the whole of the revenues. The Consul, notwithstanding his instructions,
bad not thought it opportune on this occasion to warn the Vali against taking
hostile action against Mubarak till indications of the necessity of such a warning,
which were not then apparent, should present themselves. The warning was
subsequently delivered to the Vali on the Sth Soptomber 1S99.

XII—Sheikh Mubarak’s diffidence in British and his desire of
Persian protection.
September—October 1899.
101. In a telegram dated 4th October 1S99 Mr. Wratislaw informed
Sir N. O’Conor that the Turkish Consul
Secrtl E., February 1900, No«. 77—82.
at Bushiro had informed the Vali of Bas­
rah about an application made by the Sheikh of Koweit through the Sheikh
of Mohammcrah to he taken uuder Persian protection, but that his application
has hocn rejected. This nows was confirmed from other reliable sources. The
Sheikh of Kowoit also wroto to his friend the British Agent at Bahrein
that he had no great confidence in the efficacy of our support and knowing
that the Turks wero hostile to him, ho had applied through tho Sheikh of
Mohammerah, be taken under tho wing of the Shah. Possibly this move of
the Sheikh was made as a feeler to see how far the British would come to his
protection. He was at the same time coquetting with tho Porte as will he seen
from the narrative below.