Page 52 - The Persian Gulf Historical Summaries (1907-1953) Vol IV_Neat

4.G
“ No steps should bo taken to enter into
closer relations with Nojd, or send Agents there,
without previous sanction of JI is Majesty’s
Government.”
Sir N. O’Conor, who was consulted, while S*r N. O'Conor to
recognizing the advantages of obtaining fuller ivbruftry82g,'iuo’i.
information as to affairs in the interior of Arabia,
held that the moment was not opportune for the
action suggested ; and to this opinion the Govern­
ment. of India, after receiving the views of
Colonel Kemball, the Resident in tho Persian
Gulf, subscribed in a despatch dated the 21th Government of
March, 1901. They considered, however, that, March
in view of recent developments of tho situation,
there was reason to think that “ it may shortly
bo incumbent on us to take a more lively interest
in the affairs of Central Arabia,” and they
added that: “later, .... when tho political
situation in Nejd has developed, and above all
if the present representative of the AVahabco
family .... succeeds in establishing and ex­
tending his ascendancy, which from the latest
accounts received seems to he not improbable,
we think that it may he desirable again to enter
into relations with our old ally.”
Tho successes of Bin Saoud in April 1901 led Sir N. O’Conor to
. . , . . l'orcitfn Office,
the Turkish Government to send troops aud guns April 20 ami
to the assistance of Bin Rashid. Bin Saoud ftl“y h 190J•
thereupon wrote to tho Resident in tho Persian
Gulf on tho 2nd May, 1901, protesting against May 20, 1901.
the Turkish invasion and soliciting the protection
of Great Britain for himself and his country.
At the same time tho Resident received from
Sheikh Mubarak of Kowcit a letter addressed to
the latter by Bin Saoud, in which he hinted that,
if ho failed to obtain British protection, ho
might have to fall hack on the Russian oiler of
assistance made to him in 1903. The Govern­
ment of India, in reporting this on the 20th May,
suggested that it might become necessary to
revive the proposal to post a British Resident at
Koweit, in order to watch events, should the
Turks persist ia armed intervention.
Sir N. O’Conor had already been instructed, on Lord Lnnedownc
the 10th May, 1901, to point out to the Porte to Sir N. O’Couur,
May JO, 1V(M.
that IIis Majesty’s Government, in the hope of
assisting to preserve the peace, lmd “employed
special ctforts to dissuade the Sheikh of Koweit
from taking part, even indirectly, in the hostilities
that have broken out,” and to protest against
any action being takcu by the Turkish Govern-