Page 63 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953

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(lovnramoot of forestalling an apprehended advance of the
India,
Tulugraphio, Turks, it was occupied by the Sheikh of Koweit.
March 18, 1902. It was pointed out by the Government of India
that if Subiya were surrendered Kathama Bay
would have to follow suit, and the Turks would
then threaten Koweit town.
India Office, Pailaka Island, in Koweit Bay, is indisputably
April 9, 1902.
within the jurisdiction of the Sheikh; it has
been peopled by his subjects, the Avazcm tribe^
ever since the occupation of Koweit 300 years
ago.

When Colonel Felly visited Koweit somo fifty
years ago ho described it as “a clean, active
town, with a broad and open main bazaar,
and numerous solid stone dwelling-houses, con­
taining somo 20,000 inhabitants, and attracting
Arab and Persian merchants from all quarters
by the equity of its rule and by the freedom of
its trade. Under the fostering care of
a succession of common-sense Rulers, and by
means of a policy wisely originated and syste­
matically pursued, an Arab baud of pirates now
appear as the masters of the thriving port, the
refuge of the oppressed, and the peaceful, free
home of all.”
He recorded the. following opinion on the
prospects of the port of Koweit:—
“ On the whole, and without endeavouring to
change trade from any present channel, I would
bear Koweit in mind as a convenient point for &
telegraph station, for a coal dcp6t, for the meeting
of 6ea-going and river steamers and other craft,
and as a possible future port of importance."

The present importance of Koweit is princi­
pally due to its suitability as a terminus for the
Bagdad Railway.0 Attention will be directed to
this aspect of the question after the political
status of Koweit and the relations of the Sheikh
with His Majesty’s Government have been taken
into consideration.
In his Report on the tribos around the shores
of the Persian Gulf, Colonel Pelly classified
Koweit among the “ territories nominally recog-

• See also p. G8 respecting Khor Musa in Persia.
[10981 Q