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provisions to that place from Turkish territory. This was done by an irado of
the Vali as reported by the Political Resident on 19th December 1901. In tho
opinion of Colonel IComball this prohibition was a violation of tho engagement
to maintain tho status quo at Koweit. °
No. 249. 200. In reporting this fact (telegram of 22nd Decembor) to tho Secretary
of State, His Excellency tho Viceroy expressed his concurrence with Colonel
Kemball.
No. 253. 201. Simultaneously wo find tho Amir of Nejd approaching Koweit. and
on 22nd December he was reported to bo within 6 hours' march from Jchara.
This fact was communicated to the Secretary of Stato on 23rd Decembor.
202, Tho Secretary of State telegraphed on 24-th December as follows:—
w I havo received Your Excellency’s telegrams of 22nd and 23rd December 1901.
De Bunsen has been directed to inform tho Porte that the prohibition of supply of provision!
to Koweit it breach of 6tatu9 quo upon which our assurance depends, and that if Koweit it
attacked by Turkish or Amir’s forces toe shall use force.”
203. The Porte disavowed the order in question and directed it to be
rescinded.
204. From a telegram of the Political Resident, dated 25th Decembor 1901,
No. 258.
it appeared that tho Amir had now left Hater and gono to Safwan. It was
believed that his intention was to collect Arabs belonging to Zobeir and Basrah
for the purpose of attacking Koweit, and that probably he was encouraged by
the Turkish authorities at Basrah. It was not likely that anything would bo
done during Ramzan. The senior naval officer had appliod for reinforcements
and the Political Resident thought that they should be sent, unless His
Majesty’s Government obtained satisfactory assurance from the Porte that the
Amir of Nejd would bo restrained and told to return to his own country.
205. On the 28th December it was reported that the Amir with part of his
No. 261.
forces was 15 miles from Basrah and in constant communication with the Vali
and the Mushir there. His Agent at Basrah sent him 70 tons of provisions.
206. These facts were duly communicated by wire to the Secretary of
State, and in a telegram, dated 1st January 1902, His Excellency tho Viceroy
added
No. 263. u These constant alarms about Koweit, seem to justify stronger language at Constanti-
nople than has yet been employed. It is obvious that their alleged authority over both is a
farce, if the Turks can neither keep Nejd in check nor protect Koweit from attack ",

XXV.—Dispute about the Fao Estates.
December 1901—January 1902.
207. In December 1901 another move was made by the Turkish officers at
! Basrah in order to intimidate the Sheikh of Koweit. They made the nephews
of the Sheikh institute a suit against him in connection with what are called
the Fao Estates, which brought the Sheikh a large income.
208. It would be useful here to explain briefly tho exact points at dispute,
as far as they could be ascertained by the Consul at Basrah.
109. Tho property in dispute consisted of date gardens at Fao and So/ieh,
on the Shatt-Arab aud other landed pro­
No. 194 of Secret E., January 1904.
perty at Kut-i-Zeyn, an island in the Shatt
near Moliammerab, and Qherdilan, and Ajeratciya, on the borders of the Shatt.
<10. There seemed to be no difference of opinion as regards Kut-i-Zeyn
Gherdilan and Ajcrawiye. These properties stood in the name of Mahomed
Sabah, Mubarak’s deceased brother, and were to be apportioned equally between
Mubarak and the descendants of Mahomed and Jarrah; but Mubarak s mother
became entitled to one-sixth of the share of Mahomed and Jarrah. The division
would, therefore, be: one-third to Mubarak, and one-fourth to the heirs o
Mahomed-cs-Sabab, one-fourth to tho heirs of Jarrah Sabah, and one-sixtn to
Mubarak’s mother. /
211. As regards Fao and Sofieb, the parties were at variance. According to
Mubarak’s contention, the Fao property only belonged to his grandfather Jaoor,