Page 408 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

5* PERSIAN GULP ADMINISTRATION REPORT?'

tho property of*cortajin inhabitants of Shaqra in Ncjd, and thoir Chief, Ibn
Itashid, sent an impertinent refusal to tlio usual polite roquest from Sir
Mubarak for tho roturn of the animals, intimating .plainly his devotion to
Turkish interests and recognition of Sir Mubarak as an euemy on account of
his loyalty to His Majesty’s Government. ,
Shaikh Sir Mubarak bin Subah died somewhat suddenly at about 8-15
P.M. on 2Gth November from heart fail­
Death of Sir Mubarak Bin Subnh and flUCCOI-
•ion of Shaikh Jabir. ure following an attack of malaria from
which he had been suffering for some
days. His eldest son and heir-apparent, Shaikh Jabir, lost no time in taking
up the reins of Government. He sealed all boxes and account books that same
evening, and sent a confidential messenger to the Political Agent promising
to bo even more devoted to British interests than his father had been and
asking for the support and protection of H*s Majesty’s Government. On the
following day he held tho reception, usual in such eases, which was attended
by Sir Khaz’al Khan, Shaikh of Mohammcrah, who happened to be in Kuwait
at the time, all the principal residents of the town, and the Political Agent
who thus publicly recognised the new ruler.
Shaikh Salim bin Mubarak, 'who is younger than Jabir by a year or two
only and was e:enerally supposed to have some idea of making a bid for the
succession, was absent from Kuwait at the time of his father’s death; and
Shaikh Jabir had time to consolidate bis position before his brother’s return.
Salim arrived at Kuwait on the 7th December, aad has since come to an
amicable arrangement with his brother -whereby he recognises him as Shaikh.
Shaikh Salim continues to he in charge of the Kuwait Bedouin tribes as he
was during his father’s lifetime.
It would he difficult to speak too highly in praise of the late Sir Mubarak’s
devotion to the interests of His Majesty’s Government even taking into
consideration the very different treatment -which he experienced from them
after years of trouble from Turkish trickery and intrigue; aad his loyalty
was recognised by a kind message of sympathy and regret sent to his family
by His Excellency the Viceroy and the Government of India. This elicited
a suitable reply from the new Shaikh iu which he repeated his determination
to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Owing to the war no tours in the interior were made by the Political
Agent during the year. He visited
Movements of the Political Agent. Basrah and Mohammerah on four occa­
sions, and, in October, made a trip to Qatar on special duty.
The Political Resident visited Kuwait in Pebruary. H. M.’s ships
“ Bramble,” “Northbrook,” “Dalhousie,” and “Lawrence” shewed the flag
during 1915.
Lieutenant-Colonel "W. G. Grey was Political Agent and Assistant Surgeon
C. 0. Kelly was Agency Surgeon throughout the year.

■\Y. G. GREY, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Political Agent, Kuwait.