Page 423 - Records of Bahrain (3) (i)_Neat

Turkish interests and Persian claims, 1906-1909 413

(47123/10)

satisfactory arrangement about Koweit and other places

on the Persian Gulf. Till Hie Majesty's Government oh-
tain this they can at any rate withhold their consent to

the increase of Customs duties and 11 a breach with
i
Turkey must come, it would be better that it should

come on this ground than on the ground of negotiations

initiated by His Majesty's Government in regard to the

Persian Gulf questions only.

As to removing by force signs of Turkish authority

from places where their rights are not admitted, the

question must first be considered how the Turkish au­
thorities can be prevented from replacing them once

they are removed. Where an island is concerned, no

difficulty would arise, but it would be useless to ex­

pel a small Turkish force on the mainland from a place

which Turkey can reoccupy with a larger force subse­
quently. Such action might lead to a situation-of.Which

the only solution would be a war with Turkey, and the
question Bhould be considered as to what should be done

in such a case, and what complications in Egypt or

India might be involved by war with Turkey, In fact

Sir