Page 54 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

43
the Political Agent at Kowoit on the subject in Captain Knox to
October 1901, hut Captain Knox informed him October 17!ia04.
that ho had no instructions to give advice,
and that Bin Saoud should consult his own
interests in tl.o matter. On the 30th December, Mr. Brodrick's
tettwem,
190», Mr. Brodriok telegraphed to the Govern­
IVcuiuIxt 30,
ment of India that “ 1 lis Majesty’s Government
desire that it should he clearly understood that
their interest and influence arc to bo confined
strictly to coast-lino of Eastern Arabia, and that
nothing should bo said or done to connect them
even indirectly with warfaro now in progress in
interior. They agree that Knox should give no
opinion on advice to be given by Mubarak to
Bin Saoud, hut should repont to former
warnings already given against entanglements
in interior.” It may he added that in Eebruary Mr towu|cj u,
1905 a meeting took place at Koweit between Foreign Oflico.
Sheikh Mubarak, the Turkish Vali of Bussorah, !7*190?. 12lMld
and Bin Saond's father, and Bin Saoud seems
subsequently to have come to terms, for the time
being, with the Turkish Government.
Towards the ond of 1905 Bin Saoud, whose
successes in Nejd hod continued unabated, paid
a visit to El Katr and addressed letters to tho
Sheikhs of the Pirate Coast, announcing his
intention of visiting their territories in the
following spring. The most impoitant of the Captain Trevor to
Trucial Chiefs, tho Sheikh of Abu Dthabi, con- of
ferred personally with tho Sultan of Muscat October 29, 1905.
on the situation, both rulers regarding the
prospect of Bin Saoud’s visit with considerable
apprehension.
Tho Government of India addressed tho Clovcrnmoiit of
India's l.*ttc*r,
Secretary of State on the subject in a despatch January 11, 1906.
dated the 11th January, 1900, in which they
pointed out “ how very serious to our prestige
and influence the consequences might he if Bin
Saoud should attack the Pirate Coast Chiefs or
the Sultan of Muscat, or succeed in extending
his influence over them, and how important it is
that we should prevent, as far as lies in our
power, such a contingency, especially now that
the Wahabce Amir has recognized tho suzerainty
of the Sultan.” They accordingly proposed that
inquiry should bo made, either through Sheikh
Mubarak of Koweit or through the Sultan of
Muscat, as to Bin Saoud’s intentions, witli a view
to ascertaining “ whether lie is prepared to stand
by tho engagement of his predecessors not to
oppose or injure British subjects residing in his