Page 69 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf) 1907-1953
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                                          the anchorage* below Uin Kasr* could at any
                                          tiruo bo convcrto<l into an impregnable harbour.
                                           Sir N. O’Conor mode repeated representation#
                                          to the Ottoman Government, but they proved
                                          entirely futile in their effect, in so far as tho
                                          withdrawal of the post on Bubiyan was
                                          concerned. As regards Um Kasr and Bubiyan
                              Sir N. O’Conor,   Island, Sir N. O’Conor informed the Porto that the
                              No. 153,    Turkish occupation could not be regarded as in
                              April 1, 1902.
                                          any way prejudicing tho Sheikh’s rights and
                                          authority over them. He intimated that, if the
                                          Ottoman Government proceeded to bring matters
                                          to a crisis, he would advise his Government not to
                                          allow further encroachment, and, if necessary, to
                                          prevent it by force.
                                            Tho Turkish advance to Subiya was arrested,
                                          probably owing to the presence of British war­
                                          ships.
                              India Offico,   In October 1802, the Government of India
                              October 10, 1902.
                                          reported a request made by Sheikh Mubarak for
                                          the gift of two or three guns, presumably to he
                                          placed at Jcliara for the protection of Koweib
                                          against land attack. They proposed to give a
                                          refusal, but to intimato to him that His Majesty’s
                                          Government undertook to defend the Koucit
                                          district, provided ho complied with the injunction
                              India Office,   already conveyed to him to observe his engage­
                              December 4, 1901.
                                          ment to His Majesty’s Government, and to follow
                              To India Office,   their advice. Lord Lansdowue concurred in the
                              October 18,1902.
                                          proposed reply, on the understanding that the
                                          “ ICoweit district ” should be clearly defined as
                                          the district adjoining or close to tho bay of that
                              To India Office,   name. A telegram to this effect was accord­
                              October 16. 1902.
                                          ingly sent to the Government of India.
                              Sir N. O’Conor,   In reference to an Arab raid from Nejd, made
                              No. 508,
                              November 20,   with the coguiznnce of the Yali of Bussorah,
                              1902.       pressure was brought upon the Porte to caution
                                          tho Vali, and a warning given that His Majesty’s
                                          Government would not allow an attack upon
                                          Koweit.
                   Assertion of Sheikh's claim to The importance of sccuriug the withdrawal of
                    Bubiyan and Warba Islands, the Turkish post from Ras-al-Geit, and of assert­
                                          ing the Sheikh’s claim to Bubiyan, and if
                                          possible to AVarba, was emphasized by an Inter-
                                          Departmental Committee in October 1907.
                                            After entirely concurring in the views of the
                                          Government of India, the Committee continued:__
                                           * It has been suggested that the importance of Um Kasr
                                          and Warba Roads is minimized, because the approaches
                                          through the Khor Abdulla are becoming silted up. But this
                                          appears to rest merely on hearsay aud inexpert iuformatl.m.
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