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and whether they do or not, to plant, a Koweit post at the northern end of tho island opposito
the southerly anchorage, or if this is too stiff a pill for llis Majesty’s Govommcnt. then to e ay
that wo regard Buhiynn Island as belonging to the Sheikh, and that unless their force is
withdrawn we shall support him in establishing another on the northern shore; Tho result
would probably ho that the Tuiks would retire, and that tho island would remain unoccupied.
Wo could then encourage the Sheikh to put some of his people upon it and resumo occupation.
30-11-03. C[unzoN],
If Your Excellency thinks of advocating an assertion of Sheikh Mubarak's rights over
Bubiyan and the adjacent island of Warba and tho location of the post at tho northern end
of Bubiyan. pciliaj>>* tho reports of the piracies off Bubiyan and in Khor Abdullah contained
in tho Administration Report of tho Gulf for 190-3-U4- may furnish an additional argument for
action. We havo already refused to allow the Turks to descend the Khor Subiyah, and
as he has plenty of boats, Mubarak ought to bo quite strong enough to prevent landing of small
parties on these islands.
30-11-03. L. W. Dakh.
30-11-03. C[urzon].
305. On tho above the following despatch was written to tho Secretary of
Stato No. 25, dated tho 4th. February
Secret E., March 1901, Nos. 200—201.
1904 :—
“ In his Secret despatch* No. 196, dated the 17th December, llis Excel-
• sec procin of Exploration* and Tours in Arabia, lency the Viceroy briefly mentioned his
Persia uid.i’cisUn Gulf. recent visit to Koweit and tho Khor
Abdullah, and the prospecks of the shores of this waterway as a future possible
railway terminus. We now have the honour to address you in greater detail
on the subject.
“2. It will bo within the recollection of His Majesty’s Government that
early in 1902 it was reported that the 'Turks had established a post at the head
of the Khor Abdullah. The Commaiider of H.M.S. Sphinx, who was sent
to enquire into the matter, visited the locality between the 14th and tho 19th
of February, and reported that, in addition to a position which they had occupi­
ed at Um Kasr, tho Turks had, for the first time about a fortnight previously,
stationed a force of some 20 men on the south-east corner of Bubiyan Island.
This unwarranted encroachment was at once brought to tho notice of your
predecessor, reference was made to the importance of the positions seized, and
it was proposed by the Viceroy that the Turks should be told that they must at
once leave Bubiyan, even if no protest wero oilcred against the occupation of
Dm Kasr. On the 261k March Lord George Hamilton telegraphed that it
was considered inadvisable to raise irritating discussions about the movements
of Turkish troops to places to which tho Sheikh’s title 'would bo difficult to
prove, and it was explained that Llis Majesty’s Government did not wish to
obstruct tho prolongation of the Baghdad Bailway to the Gulf, whether at
Koweit or elsewhere. It was added, however, that their assistance would bo
conditional upon British capital receiving, in respect of construction, materials,
and management, ut least equal shares with any other Power. In the event,
no action was taken to assert the Chief’s claims beyond an intimation to tho
Forte that their action was regarded as constituting a disturbance of the status
quo, and that tho occupation of tho places in question could not bo regarded as
in any way prejudicing the Sheikh’s rights and authority over them, and tho
Turkish posts still remain at Um Kasr and A1 Geit, where they were then
established.
“ 3. The importance of the question lies in its relation to the future pro­
bable terminus of what is known as the Baghdad Bailway. Article I of the
Convention, dated the 2lst January 1902, between the Turkish Government
and the promoters of this enterprise provides that the projected railway shall
run from Zobeir to a point on the Persian Gulf to be determined by mutual
agreement botween the Ottoman Porte and tire Company, and there appears to
be no doubt that tho Turkish advance of 1902 to the shores of Khor Abdullah
and the island of Bubiyan was > designed to enable tho concessionaires to
secure, without reference to His Majesty’s Government, what was already re-
cognised by tho German Engineers, and has since been generally acknowledg­
ed to be, tho most suitable terminus on the Gulf. Tho first section of t ie
line is now, wo understand, in course of construction by German ontcrpnso