"كتيّب بلاد الرافدين. المجلد II. ١٩١٧" [‎٤‎٠‎٥] (٥٤٢/٤١٦)

'V.
o
KOWEIT—KUFEH 405
its determination to oppose by force any landing of troops, A few-
weeks afterwards an official from Basra warned the Sheikh that he
had better make his submission to the Turkish Government, but this
action was disavowed, on representations of the British ambassador
at Constantinople. A more peremptory summons was issued later
in the same year, which resulted in the Sheikh stating that he would
have no option but to comply unless assured of British support.
The Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf received instructions
to defend the town, but no attack was made, and again the Porte
disavowed the action of its officials, though during 1903 it continued
to occupy various more or less debatable points on the Koweit
boundaries with small posts of troops, e.g. at Safwan, Bubayan
Island, Umm Qasr, and Warbeh Island.
Between 1903 and 1910 there was little open interference with the
status quo, though the Young Turkish Government which came into
power in 1908 tried unsuccessfully to detach the Sheikh by their
promises from the British connexion. The attitude of His Majesty's
Government with regard to the situation was stated by Sir E. Grey
in the House of Commons on March 9, 1911, in a debate concerning
the suggested Persian Gulf section of the Baghdad Railway. He
said: 'We are not anxious to disturb the status in the Persian
Gulf . . . but if the status quo is going to be disturbed by others
then we must undoubtedly use our resources to maintain our position
in the Persian Gulf. Part of the status quo is that we have entered
into treaty obligations with the Sheikh of Koweit, and in any
negotiations which there may be, or in any changes which may take
place, it is an obligation of honour with us to see that our treaty
obligations towards the Sheikh of Koweit in maintaining his position
are fulfilled.'
In 1914 this and other points of variance were on the point
of being amicably settled.
\
I
EUFEH. On the 1. bank of the Kufeh Channel of the Hindiyeh
arm of the Euphrates, and 7 m. NE. of Nejef. Population estimated
(1908) at about 3,000. T. Bridge of boats.
River Routes. —Por communication by the Euphrates between
Kufeh and other places on the river see IV A, B, C, D.
Land Route. —To Nejef. There is a horse-tramway from Kafeh to
Nejef.
General Description. —Kufeh has a river frontage of 500-600 yds.
For details of bridge and river see Boute IV C (i), m. 99 ; it is reported
if
I