Page 134 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

68

Majesty's Government by admitting:, not by any moans for the first time, that Koweit is within
Turkish Empire subject to alt qualifications upon which 11 is Majesty's Government have
throughout insisted as to unsubstantial character of the Sultan’s authority and reality of laroe
measure of claimed for SieM. A« .•> mutter of fuel. O'Conor, in subsequent
interview with Grand \ izicrnnd foreign Minister, did not icf.r to status quo of Koweit but
His Majesty’s Government while adhering to position*!akon up in despatch to Lascellcs of 12th
September 11102, cannot, in view of admission above referred to, support O’Conor’s statement
in despatch of 12th Seplcinbcr 1002, in which lie rejected Sultan's suzerainty. They desire
to maintain status quo at Kowoit and to preserve Sheikh's privileges and territories. These
however, are insufficiently defined, specially territories, and Ilis Majesty's Government desire*
firstly, to avoid entanglement in doubtful disputes, and, secondly, to’liavc it understood that
their rights and policy in Persian Gulf do not depend upon their shadowy connection with
Koweit, but upon other and broader considerations, and that, in order to establish claim to
have voice in such questions as that of railway terminus, it is not necessary to prove that
proposed location is within Koweit territory."
243. In a letter dated 19tli April 19^2, Sheikh Mubarak complained to the
Political Resident that the Turkish soldiers
Enclosure Pro. No. 45 of Secret E., July 1002,
Nci. 307-309. were still at Bubyan, Safwan and Um
Kasr. As regards Bubyon, lie stated that
his subjects would go to the place to resume their lishing occupation. Safwan
also would be visited by his tribesmen with their flocks after a fortnight, but
the presence of Turkish soldiers would frighten them. Ho also mentioned
that 30 Turkish soldiers tried to occupy A mayor island—which is north of
Katif—but that the Arabs of the place did not allow them to land. This
island appears to be the same as the island in the Musalamiyah Bay, about
70 miles north of Katif. The report of tbo attempted occupation of this island
was telegraphed by the Naval Commander-In-Chief to London. The Secretary
of State wished to know the particulars.
No. 4-10 of correspondence cited.
The Political Resident reported by tele­
gram, dated 7th May, that the Sheikh of Koweit claimod the island ; but that
it was clearly within the sphere of Turkish iufluenco and that the Sheikh’s
claims could not be supported.

XXVII—Turkish complaints against the proceedings of British
officers and the Sheikh of Koweit, March 1902.
244. On the 14th of March 1902, tbo Turkish Ambassador in London
called the attention of the Foreign Office to certain reports in regard to affairs
in the neighbourhood of Koweit:—
245. These reports were to the effect—
that officers of llis Majesty's Navy had placed three fiagstaffs at Djozire
close to the landing-stago at Adjiri (Ajcir) and made demonstrations on board
a steam boat in that neighbourhood,
that the forces of Sheikh Mubarak bad intercepted the communica­
tions between Basrah and Ncjd with the intention of invading Katif, and had
cut off the Turkish detachment at Karr, while British man-of-war was anchored
off that place.
that Ilis Majesty’s Consul at Bahrein bad given a public warning of tbo
presence of Arab tribes at Adjiri in consequence of which trading vessels had
been obliged to disembark their cargoes at Bahrein.
246. With regard to the proceedings in the neighbourhood of Adjiri, it
No.. 308. and 313,317 and 318, Secret e., July appears that in the course of operations
1002, Nos. 307*803. conducted by a surveying vessel ot tno
Government of India the Investigator, three bamboo poles with flags were tem­
porarily placed as marks on the coast north of Adjiri for the purpose of a survey
by triangular observations connected with Bahrein, and that the demonstration
referred to by the Turkish Ambassador was to bo explained by the landing oi au
officer from the ship to make the observations necessary to complete tbo trian­
gular connection between the coast and that island. These operations vor
entirely confined to scientific investigations of general interest and to a par •
cular portion of the coast south of Katif. The Political Resident was a( V1
under instructions from the Secretary of State to warn the Commander or
Investigator to uso caution and avoid misunderstanding. Hc was»110" '

m