Page 96 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

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India’.to the telegram of 24th December—see paragraph 62 above) at the instance
of the Foreign Office to instruct His Excellency tbo Viceroy as in the telegram
of 6th January already qu6tcd.

60. The Government of India thereupon (under orders of His Excellency
Lord Curzon) telegraphed to the Political Resident as follows on 8th January
1899:—
No. 69S.
" Government dcBire to take immediate steps with utmost secrecy possible in order to
avoid suspicious attaching to open pmtcctorote to obtain engagements from Sbeikli of Koweit
not to cede, lease, mortgage or otherwise alienate or give for occupation any portion of his
1
territory to the Government or subject of any other power without obtaining pVcvious consent
of Her Majesty’s Government. For this purpose they are prepared to offer 5,000 pounds sterling
or even more if absolutely necessary to Sheikh. Please telegraph immediately how you propose
to effect this negotiation and if you go to Koweit whether you go in “ Lawrence” or in man-of-
war; also whether present naval force is sufficient in Gulf.”
61. This telegram was repeated to the Secretary of State on 9th January
with the addition :—
“ Proposed negotiations, if successful, seem to involve ultimate protectorate.**

No. 694. 62. Thero passed then the following telegraphic correspondence between
Colonel Meade, His Excellency the Viceroy and the Secretary of State:—

No. 695. (1) Telegram P., dated the 8th January 1899.
From—The Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire,
To—The Foreign Secretary, Calcutta.
Your Secret telegram. Koweit. I propose goin2 myself in " Lawrence” ostensibly for
the purple of enquiry into the arms traffic, and can arrange trip without causing remark, as I
have given out I propose shooting at K ha raj. from which I will cross to Koweit by nigbt. I
tvill start as soon as possible on hearing from y«>u, and will negotiate the tcrm9 of agreement
which should ho made binding on present Sheikh's successor as well as on himself. I would,
however, venture to suggest instead of sum down I may be authorised (to) arrange yearly
subsidy, conditional oo scrupulous observance of the terms by the Sheikh of Koweit, a limit of,
say, 1,000 pounds sterling per annum being given. I think also that I may bo allowed to
assure him of our good offices as long as lie adheres to agreemeut, for, if the other Sheikh's sons
overcome Mubarak, they may not cm-ider themselves bound by agrooment with him ; while,
if he has our support, ho will probably easily hold his own. As only secret airangeraent is
contemplated at present, it seems undesirable to attract attention to this part of Gulf and no
increase of naval force here is necessary ; but if gun boat required Maskat, she should be sent
from India and a Cruiser may be held in readiue8s to come if required.
No. 696. (2) Telegram P., No. 68-E.A., dated the 14th January 1899.
From—His Excellency the Viceroy, Calcutta,
To—Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, London.
Would not agreement concluded by Talbot with Trucial Chiofs in 1892 supply best model
for Koweit agreement with additions named by Monde? I think terms suggested by Mead©
are exorbitant, and that Sheikh would probably sign without subsidy or for much smaller
subsidy. In the meantime, Meade is doing nothing until arrival of your instructions.
(3) Telegram P., dated the 17th January 1899.
No. 600.
From—HerMajesty's Secretary of State for India, London,
To—Ilis Excelloccy the Viceroy, Calcutta.
Koweit. Your Foreign Secret telegram of 14th January. I prefer terms of declaration
dated 20th March 1891, with Maskat to those of agreement in 1392 with the Trucial Lnic s,
which goes beyond necessity of the case. I intended that Sheikh of Koweit should bind turn-
self and bt6 successor. I agree with you as to Meade's terms boing oxccssivs, and i yo
•think that an annual subsidy is preferable, I think two hundred pounds sterling per annum
ought to suffice, but I am roady to leave it to your discretion.