Page 56 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

50
O’Conor, who liiul been consulted and had
recommended in a despatch dated the 20th March,
1000, that any such warning should be conveyed
direct to Bin Saoud, and not through the agency
ol the Sheikh of Kowcit or tho Sultan of Muscat.
Sir N. O’Conor further suggested that Bin
Saoud, in tho event of his visiting tho coast,
should he met by a British vessel of war at ono
of the places which lie proposed to visit, and
told that no tampering with tho engagements
and Conventions of tho Trueial Chiefs would bo
permitted.
Lu conveying the decision of His Majesty’s Mr. Worley's
Government to tho Government of India, the
Secretary of State wrote as follows in a despatch
dated the 13th April, 1900 :—
“ llis Majesty’s Government accept tho view
that a warning to tho Amir would be necessary
if ho wero to carry out his reported intention.
They consider, however, that it would he better
that such warning should be convoyed to him
only in the event of his appearing upon tho
coast, aud that it should then he conveyed to him
directly as proposod by Sir N. O’Conor.”

Bin Saoud’s reply to Mubarak’s letter of
advice was communicated to the Political Agent,
Koweit, on the 25th February, 1906. Major Major Cox to
Cox described it as a “ very courteous response.” °f
The terms of Bin Saoud’s letter, as translated Aprils, I9u6.
from the vernacular, are obscure, hut his
apparent object was to disclaim any intention
of objectionable action. As a matter of fact,
Bin Saoud did not visit the Pirate Coast.
In April 1900 news was received of the defeat
and death of Bin Rashid at the hands of his
rival, Bin Saoud.
On the ICth September, 1906, Major Cox Major Cox
again raised the question of entering into closer of {idla,"”11*01
relations with the interior of Arabia. He drew September 16,
1906.
attention to overtures that had been made by
and on behalf of Bin Saoud with a view to the
establishment of a closer connection between
himself and the British Government, and recom­
mended that the opportunity should be taken to
come to terms with the Wahabec Chief on the
following grounds:—
1. That overtures had been made at various
times by Bin Saoud himself, and by Sheikh