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Government, Possibly he will not make his
attempt oven for four or five years more.”
Major Cox In forwarding Captain Prideaux’s Report to
to Uovorninont of
Indin, tho Government of India, Major Cox, in a letter
Novorabor 24, dated the 24th November, IflOG, urged tho
1900.
necessity of an “ authoritative " reply being
returned to the “ references made through the
local officers by Sheikh Mubarak of Koweit and
Sheikh Josim of Katr on behalf of Bin Saoud—*
references which have in no way been courted,
hut which 1 cannot leave unanswered without
incurring among the Chiefs concerned a reputa?
tion for personal negligence or discourtesy,
which would he prejudicial to my work in other
ways."
These papers were sent home for information in
the ordinary course by the Government of India
without comment in January 1907. In a telegram
dated the 9th February, 1907, the Government
of India were asked for an expiession of their
views as to the answer to he returned to Sheikh
Viceroy's Jnsini. They replied as follows on the 15th
tolegrom,
Fobruary 15,1907. February:—
“ We are sending despatch reviewing situation
in Eastern Arabia, and suggesting that answer
he eouveyed to Bin Saoud to the effect that
British Government, while anxious to maintain
friendly relations with him so long as he com­
ports himself in a manner consonant with British
interests and our engagements with Arab Sheikhs
on coast, sec no necessity at present for making
him any formal promises of the protection which
might even have effect cf stimulating Turkish
opposition to consolidation of his authority.
Answer might be eouveyed orally through
Sheikh Jasim or such other agency as our
Resident, in the Persian Gulf may recommend.”
Government of The promised despatch was sent on the
India,
February 21,1907. 21st February, 1907. In it the Government of
India reviewed the position of His Majesty’s
Government in regard to Ncjd affairs since
1904. They expressed the view that matters
were rapidly approaching a crisis, which would
compel us to make up our minds as to our
policy towards Central Arabia. They considered
the prospects of Turkey re-establishing her au­
thority in Eastern Arabia to he remote, and even
contemplated the prospect of the Turks dis­
appearing altogether from the whole of Arabia
south of Zobehr. .At the same time they held
[10981 P