Page 98 - Gulf Precis (V)_Neat

22
No. 049. 67. The Secretary of State telegraphed on 14th February that the agree­
ment might be ratified and that a hope might bo held out to Sheikh Mubarak
that we would do what wo could to protect him and his brothers in the matter
of their estate near Fao.
No. CM. 68. The agreement was ratified on 16th February, and this fact as also the
Secretary of State’s instructions as to the Turkish estates was telegraphed to
the Political Resident on 17th.February.
No. C53. 69. As regards the third provision in the agreement extending the engage-
ment to territory now in possession of subjects of other Governments, the
Political Resident telegraphed on the 19th in reply to an enquiry
"1 added provision to guard against possible transfer of some house property at Koweit
itself belonging to Turkish subjects to Russians or others. Mubarak promised not to permit
aoy such transfer without permission of Her Majesty's Government."
Secret E, 70. Her Majesty’s Government, in expressing their approval of the action
June lf9J, of Colonel Meade as regards the agree­
No*. 84-219. Secret E., Juno 1899, Nos. 91*119.
ment, pointed out that in-as-much as
Lieutenant-Colonel Meade had been instructed to conclude an agreement
similar to that which exists with the Sultan of Maskat, he was not authorized
to stipulate that the Sheikh should not receive representatives from any
other Power or Government without the previous sanction of the British
Government. As this proviso had been introduced, Her Majesty’s Government
decided that it should remain in force ; but warned that its operation, more
especially with regard to the relations of the Sheikh with the Turkish Govern­
No. 101.
ment, would require the careful attention of tho Government of India (see
Secretary of State’s Despatch No. 11, dated 30th March 1899) ■
71. In his letter No. 70, dated 21st May 1899, Colonel Meade offered the
No. 118.
following explanation about the last point:—
"I would explain, for the information of Government of India, that tho clause, in the
agreement, by which tho Sheikh promised not to receive tho representatives of other Powers,
without the previous sanction of tho British Government, was inserted, as I understood such
to be the wish of Sheikh Mubarak himself, conveyed to roe by my Assistant, Mr. Gaskin,
who told me that the Sheikh did not want to have Agents from other Powers, residing at
Kowoifc and would agree to refuse his consent to such arrangements without a reference to the
British Government.
As a clause to this effect would be useful liter on, and 6eemed calculated to strengthen
our position at Kowcit, and as a similar proviso had been inserted in the agreement of the 22nd
December 1S80 with Sheikh Esa of Bahrein, vide Agreement No. XXXI, Aitchison's Treaties,
Volume X, page 120, when tho Bahrein Sheikh agreed to refuse permission to any other Gov­
ernment than the British, to establish diplomatic or consular agencies in his territory, unless,
with the consent of the British Government, I thought the opportunity was a good one to
obtain a similar promise from Sheikh Mubarak, as he himself wished to give it.
I do not think the proviso is likely to give rise to any trouble, as the Sheikh will tell the
Turks, if they propose sending an Agent to Koweit, that ho would prefer not to have one and
he will, probably, be able to prevent the appointment being made without any sort of reference
to the stipulation in the agreement with us. In the meantime your instructions will be c^-
fully attended to, and any information indicating that the Porte, or any other Power, wishes
to send an Agent to Koweit, will be communicated to you without delay. No action, too, will
be taken in the matter without your instructions."
8«eret e., 72. As regards the incidence of the advance of Rs. 16,000 made to Sheikh
^”120-130. Mubarak, it was decided that £500 were to be borne by Her Majesty’s Gov­
ernment and that the balance should be changed on Indian Revenues.

VIII.—Porte’s complaints against British proceedings at Koweit as
infringement of quarantine regulations April—May, 1899-
73. The proceedings of Colonel Meade at Koweit attracted of course t le
Porto’s attention. A complaint was com-
sccrctE., June 1899, No.. 70-79. municated by the Turkish Quarantine
Officer at Basrah to tho Ottoman Sanitary Administration regarding the lan mg
of the Commander of tho Lawrence with a British Political Officer in spite or
sanitary regulations.
74. The Secretary of State having asked fora report, Colonel ®
submitted accounts of the Commander of tho Lawrence and Mr. GasKin

i