Page 179 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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In view, however, of the assurances recorded in the note quoted above,
Sir N. O’Conor did not find occasion to communicate these instructions, and
controversy with the Porto rested for the moment on the basi9 of a mutual
maintenance of the status quo. The Turkish Ambassador expressed himself
well satisfied with the present state of olfairs (October 1st), and on the same
day Sir N. O’Conor was assured by the Minister for Foreign Affairs “ most
positively that the Imperial Government had no intention whatsoever of occupy­
ing or attacking Koweit.” The understanding then ions that the two Govern­
ments were to co-operate in maintaining the peace, Turkey endeavouring to
restrain (he Amir, while Her Majesty's Government were to do what they
could to discourage the Sheikh from aggressive action. Mubarak teas told that
the good offices of Her Majesty's Government will be extended to him only
if he follows their advice.
The British Ambassador at Berlin, Sir F. Lasccllcs, wrote to the Marquess
of Lansdownc on 13th September 1U01:—
In the different conversations which I have bad with Baron von Richthofen since my re­
turn to Berlin, allusion has been made to the question of Koweit, and I have tried to explain to
His Excellency that His Majesty’s Government, although they have no wish to annex or
proclaim a protectorate over Koweit, consider that the Sultan’s authority is of a vague
character and that an attempt on his part to assert that authority by sending troops would
lead to serious complications.
On the 13th September I again saw Baron von Richthofen, and said that I was glad to
think that the incident might now bo considered as closed. Ilis Excellency replied that he
hoped that this was the case, although he had not yet heard from Constantinople that the
Turkish Government were satisfied. His Excellency repeated what he had said to me pre­
viously that the German Government had been unfavourably impressed at hearing that the
Commander of one of His Majesty’s ships in the Persian Gulf had talked of a protectorate
over Koweit at the very moment when the King had handed to the Emperor a memorandum,
in which it was stated that His Majesty’s Government did not desire to interfere with the
status quo or the Sultan’s authority in those parts. The German Government considered
that Koweit was a portion of the Turkish Empire, and it was certainly a high hauded measure
to prevent the Sultan from sending troops to any part of his dominions.
I replied that I was glad of this opportunity to explain to His Excellency that the memo­
randum which the King had handed to the Emperor was not to be considered as a formal
document officially presented to the Gorman Government. It consisted of somewhat hastily
written notes for the King’s personal use in case tho different questions mentioned in it should
bo brought forward in conversation with the Emperor. Personally I was glad that the Em­
peror should have been put in possession of Your Lordship’s views; but as regards the ques­
tion of Koweit, it was evident that His Majesty’s Government considered that the Sultan's
authority, toith which they (lid not wish to interfere, did not prevent a large measure of in­
dependence on the part of the Sheikh, which was also part of the status quo. I trust, however,
that as the Porte has declared that they did not intend to send troops to Koweit, and that
His Majesty's Government has declared that they did not intend to proclaim a protectorate,
the question may be regarded as settled.
A memorandum- upon various subjects, including Koweit, drawn up by
Lord Lansdowno for the King’s personal use, and handed by His Majesty to
the German Emperor at their meeting, in August 1901 had elicited a formal
reply from the German Government, which Count Mcttcrnich had left at
the Foreign Offico on tho 3rd September 1901.
It was now explained to him (sec despatch of Marquess of Lansdownc to
Sir F. Lasccllcs dated, 12th September 1901), that the memorandum, which bad
been hastily prepared, was a purely informal and unofficial document. The
statement referred to by Count Mcttcrnich on tho 3rd was a repetition of Sir
N. O’Conor’s language in 1900, which might be more correctly described as
having stated that His Majesty's Government have no desire to interfere
with the Sultan's authority as it exists in those parts.
There could be no doubt that this authority teas of a very limited descrip­
tion. The Sheikh belonged to a class of native Chiefs enjoying a large measure
of practical independence, with whom His Majesty's Government found it
necessary to have direct relations for the sake of the maintenance of tranquil­
lity and the protection of British trade.
Therefore, although ready to maintain the status quo, His Majesty’s
Government had been unable to acquiesce in attempts recently made by Turkey