"الكويت" [ظ‎‎١] (١٢/٢)

9.
Political,
265/97.
1069/97.
1827/97.
20.33/97.
2062/9,
2374/97.
2451 97.
2291/97.
242/98.
2430 98.
2391 98.
2519/98.
On the 27tli February tlie Government of India reported that Mubarak was
making overtures for an interview with the Resident, and permission was
given for the interview to take place. Colonel Meade reported the result of
the interview in his letter of the 2')th September 1897. It appeared that the
Sheikh wished to place himself under British protection such as was enjoyed
by Bahrein. He had previously endeavoured to secure recognition from the
Turks, and it was doubtful whether his advances to us were bond'fide or
designed to put pressure on the Turks. On the whole, Colonel Meade was in
favour of meeting the Sheikh's wishes, but recognised that difficulties would
arise from Turkish claims.
In the meantime Captain TVhyte, lately Consul at Busrah, had sent in a
memorandum showing strong reasons against M. Stavrides' assertion that
Koweit was independent of Turkey. The Foreign Office had accordingly
instructed Sir N. O'Conor (with reference to a proposal that the British
Consul should intervene in consequence of an attack which had been made on
Koweit by Sheikhs Jassim of Katr and Yusuf Ibrahim) that, though we
had never acknowledged Koweit to be under Turkish protection, it seemed
doubtful whether wo could deny that in fact it was under Turkish influence.
The Consul was accordingly instructed not to intervene unless the peace of
the Gulf was threatened.
This attitude was consistently maintained by Her Majesty's Government,
notwithstandino- rumours that the Turks intended to intervene and that a
O
son of the murdered Sheikh had invoked British assistance and protection,
and a representation by the Government of India that, whereas Koweit was at
present a dangerous piratical centre and emporium for the slave trade, Sheikh
Mubarak was anxious to accept our protection.
The receipt of Colonel Meade's report, and of a letter from the Admiral on
the East India Station advocating the strengthening of our hold over Koweit,
did not affect the attitude of Her Majesty's Government, though it was laid
down that there was nothing in the status of Koweit to hamper naval
officers in bringing home to the Sheikh responsibility for piratical acts
committed by his subjects (telegram to India, dated 4th December 1897).
1898.
Late in 1897 and early in 1898 reports were received of movements of
Turkish troops near Busrah, of an alleged Russian mission to Baghdad, and
of an intention on the part of Russia to acquire a coaling station on the
Persian Gulf, possibly Koweit. These reports induced the India Office to
ask the Foreign Office (11th February 1898) whether they were in possession
of any information as to designs of Foreign Powers, which might make it
desirable to modify the policy of non-intervention in Koweit,
To this letter no reply was received till the 5th December 1898. In the
interval Mr. (now Lord) Curzon had been inquiring into the subject, but
officially the question had been allowed to rest; and nothing had occurred to
bring it again into prominence until the receipt of Sir JN". O'Conor's Despatch
of the 1st November 1898, which enclosed a Consular Report to the effect
that the A ali of Busrah, by sanction of the Porte, had appointed a commis
sion to settle the quarrels between Sheikh Mubarak and his nephews. The
India Office then addressed a letter to the Foreign Office (dated 23rd
November 1898) drawing attention to the issues raised in the letter of the 11th
February. The Foreign Office in reply expressed their readiness to support the
Government of India by diplomatic action, should that Government consider
that a protectorate over Koweit might be asserted and undertaken by it on its
sole responsibility without difficulty or inconvenient extension of police duties
in the Gulf. It was added " It does not appear that there is any foundation in
fact for a Turkish claim of sovereignty or control over the district." The
substance of this letter was communicated to the Government of India, with
a request for their views, by telegram, on the 24th December 1898. On the
27th December 1898 the Foreign Office received from Sir N. O'Conor a
Despatch (dated 22nd December) pointing out the necessity for caution and
the avoidance of any overt act, which would probably be regarded by Turkey
as little short of a hostile act and provoke serious complications not only
with Turkey but with Russia.
The substance of this warning was telegraphed to the Viceroy on the
5th January 1899.