Page 53 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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meat “ which might add still further to the
disturbed condition of this part of Arabia.” Ou
receipt of the Viceroy’s telegram of the 20th
l^rd [.aiisdowno May, 1904, .Sir N. O’Conor was further in­
to Sir N. U'Couor,
Muy 21. 1904. structcd by telegraph to communicate at once
with the Porte, and to repeat in urgent terms the
representations he had already been instructed to
make.
Sir N. O'Conor to Sir N. O’Conor replied on the 23rd May that
Foreign Oflico,
May 23, 1901. it was difficult to sec ou what grounds the Porte
could ho pressed to refrain from assisting the
Amir of Ncjd, who was tho party attacked, lie
considered that wo should confine ourselves for
the present to maintaining intact the territory of
Kowuit and awaiting developments, hut that, if
tho Turks persisted in rendering assistance to
liin ltashid, it might be expedient to reconsider
the question of appointing a British Resident at
Koweit.
Vicoroy’B The substance of Sir N. O’Conor’s views was
telegram.
May 29, 1904. telegraphed to India ou the 24th May. In
reply the Government of India, in a telegram
dated tho 29th May, suggested that Sir N.
O’Couor should be instructed to inform the Porte
that wo had no desire to assist Biu Saoud
directly or indirectly, but that if, as a result of
Turkish support, Bin Rashid became unduly
powerful, our interests in Eastern Arabia might
he injuriously affected. They held that British
prestige at Koweit would he impaired if, by
preventing Mubarak from assisting his friend
and ally Biu Saoud, and by stopping the
importation of urms, wc allowed Turkish influ­
ence to determine the supremacy of the Turkish
nominee in Central Arabia. Their conclusions
were that au Agent should bo sent to Koweit,
and that the arms trade there should not he
interfered with.
Mr. Urodrick’a The proposal to scud an officer as Political
loli'giHm,
June 24, 1904. Agent to Koweit was approved by His Majesty’s
Government, and tho Government of India were
informed accordingly ou the 24th Juno, 1904.
It was decided at the samo time to defer for the
present any fresh measures for the prevention of
tho importation of arms at Koweit. Captain
Knox, the officer appointed, proceeded to Koweit
in August 1904.
Towards the end of August 1904 the Turks,
who had hitherto supported Bin Rashid, made
overtures to Biu Suoud, and tho latter applied to
Sheikh Mubarak for advice as to how the Turkish
advances should bo met. Mubarak approached

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