Page 641 - PERSIAN 8 1912_1920_Neat

60
FOR THE TEA.R 1918.

nWav passed off quietly and after waiting n short time to see ,f *®re was y
iiSiSigsiEii

caravans. At the same time, in order to avoid the occupation of Kuwait, it was
decided to try to settle the Kuwait problem by buying up all tbe stocks held
in Kuwait and to limit imports in order to prevent their being replaced.
The effect of the action taken on April 11th was that, on May 4th, the
Shaikh wrote a letter to the Political Agent begging that Government would
extend to him the same friendship and protection as bis predecessors had re­
ceived and pledging himself to complete responsibility for anything which might
take place in his territory, while a marked improvement took place in the general
attitude of the Shaikh’s officials. The Shaikh’s overtures were submitted to
Government but, owing to some delay in their acceptance, the Shaikh grew
restive and the Political Agent was authorised, on June 3rd, to inform him
that Government were giving his letter their friendly consideration and that
it was hoped that Sir Percy Cox would deliver their reply on his return to
Mesopotamia.
The purchases on behalf of Government amounted to :—
Rice 56,753 bags
Wheat 1,640 „
Barley 2.900 , to a (ofc '1 value
Sugar 7.^05 , of
Coffee 10,6«5 , Ra. 26,52,943-12-0
Pepper 350 „ .
Tea 1,658 cases J
but purchasing was stopped on June 2nd at the express request of tbe Shaikh
to the Deputy Civil Commissioner, Basrah and the Political Agent, as a
personal concession to himself.
It was, however, found that such enormous orders were being placed in
India and in other Gulf Ports to' replace the stocks bought by Government
that further action became necessary and on June 12th the Shaikh was informed
that these goods could not be allowed to land pending the reply of Government
to his letter and that the merchants could be given the option of shipping to
Basrah under permit or selling to Government at cost price plus live per cent,
any goods which the Blockade Officer considered should not bo landed at Kuwait.
On June 26th the S.S. " Zayani*’ was ordered to over-carry her cargo which
included more than 21,000 packages, mostly foodstuffs, for Kuwait.
On June 24th the Political Agent represented that occupation was still
the only real solution of the Kuwait question, but that if that were not
feasible the Shaikh’s offer must be accepted at once as any capital we mi^ht
hope to make out of the acceptance would be lost by further delay : discontent-
was rife in the town among high and low and our failure to come to a decision
was looked upon as due to the weakness of our position as regards the war.
On June 2Sth the Government of India issued orders that the Shaikh’s
offer should be accepted on certain conditions, which decision was communi­
cated to the Shaikh m the letter quoted at length hereafter, while exports from
India to Kuwait were to be prohibited except on permits signed by the
roUtical Agent or his representative and such executive action as possible
was to be taken to prevent exports to Kuwait from other Gulf Ports The
following statement of policy was made: while the Government of India
appreciate the desirability of cheeking trade with Kuwait they do not consider
imP°rtanca t0 3usfify the risk of an open breach v^th the
wl,h ,u r~“»"