Page 157 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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Telegram, dated tho 19th February 1C01
From—ITis Majesty's Scorctary of Stato for India, London,
To—ITia Esccllonoy tho Viceroy, Calcutta.
Plcaso refer to your telegram of tho lfith January regarding Koweit. I approve your
proposal to nppoint a native medical subordinate of tho Indian Government to the charge of
tho post oflico thero, but am of opinion that tho Sheikh should undertake not to allow the
establishment of post office of other countries.
Tolngram, dated tho 21etFobruary 1904.
From—Tho Foreign Secretary, Calcutta,
To—Lieutbkant-Coloxrl C. A. Kemiull, C.T.E , Political Resident,Persian Gulf, Bushire.
Your letter 6th Juno 1903. On the 16th January Viceroy telegraphed to Secretary of
Stato; “ Now that regular steam service.......approve of our proposal” In reply Secretary of
State telegraphs 19th February ; “ 1 approve............... of other countries.” Can you obtain
required undertaking and arrange details when yon or your assistant visits Koweit in connection
with Goguycr’s iutrigucs and importation of arms ?

Telogram. dnted the 29th February 1904.
From—Libotbnaut-Colonbl C. A. Ke&uull, C.I.E., Political Rosident, Persian Gulf, Bushire,
To—Tho Foreign Secretory, Calcutta.
Your telegram of tho 21st instant. Post office, Koweit. Sheikh has given required
undertaking, which I will forward with report next mail.

33S. In accordance with the approvaFof the Secretary of State conveyed
in his telegram of 19th February 1904, Government proceeded to make the
necessary arrangements for sending a medical subordinate to Kowoit. Assis­
tant Surgeon Daudar Khan (M.B.) bas bocn selected for tho post, and will
roceive the pay of his grade plus a local allowance of Its. 100 a mouth with other
allowances. A postman has been ordered to go with him to perform the work of
packer and stamping (Government of India’s letter No. 1575-E. A., dated the
13th May 1904).
339. Meanwhile wo received tho following telegram, dated the 1st July
1904, from His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India :—

" Koweit. Plcaso refer to my telegram of the 9th February 1904. Though Sir N. O’Conor
docs not question the advantage of the new postal arrangement, he considers that its execution
should be delayed until the Porte has replied to his representations regarding the island of Bu-
biyan. Have any steps been taken already towards the selection of an officer and the establish­
ment of the post office ? His arrival at Koweit should in any case be deferred in order to
avoid any appearance of infringement of the status quo while negotiations are in progress re*
garding the island of Bubiyan.”
340. With this telegram of the Seoretary of State, matters came to stand
still, while uuder the recent orders of the Secretary of State a Political Agent
has been appointed at Koweit (see section XII). The situation is explained
• p*g« 2i-2s of socrct e., July 1901, No*, in Mr. Praser’s note dated 3rd July
620-659. 1904,
It is not easy to fathom what was in the mind of Sir N. O'Conor in moving His Majes­
ty’s Government to object to tho immediate despatch of the postal subordinate to Koweit
after he had but a few days beforo acquiesced in the appointment of a Political Agent with
Sheikh Mubarak. Tho history of these two proposed appointments is briefly as follows:—
,f In July 1903 Sir N. O'Conor advocated that a Resident should he sent to Koweit, and
tho proposal was supported by the Viceroy, but His Majesty’s Government objected on the
ground that it would be a departure from the stains quo.
In February 1904 tho Secretary of Stato sanctioned the appointment of a medical subordi*
nate to bo in chargo of tho post office at Koweit, which the Sheikh had askod for, considering
that it was unobjectionable iu itself, and tonded towards the extension of British influence
in the .place. ”
Sir N. O’Conor had been previously consulted and 6aid
“Tho Porto may romonstrato against tho establishment of post office at Koweit as an
infringement of the status quo, but as we havo similar officos in Turkey proper, I do not think
that this matters, and I see no objuctiou. *