ملف ١٨٥٥\١٩٠٤، الجزء ٩ "الكويت:- العلاقات مع تركيا. مطالبة الشيخ بجزر بوبيان ووربة وأم قصر" [و‎‎٢‎٦‎٥] (٢٢٨/١٣١)

To
No. 57 of 1905.
government of IND!a.
foreign department.
SEC RET.
External.
The Right Hon’ble St. JOHN BROHRICK,
Mis Majesty's Secretary of State for India.
Fort William, the 16th March 1905.
/ „ Sir,
A
^ , ,,,^ e , have theJio nour t0 refer t0 onr despatch No. 25 (Secret-External)
of 4th I ehruary 1904, and to the subsequent telegraphic correspondence
T ^'hh your telegram of 18th May 190 f on the subject of the measures that
should be taken to obtain the evacuation of Bubiyan Island by the Turkish
troops which are at present stationed there.
2. In that despatch we submitted, for your consideration, the following
alternative proposals :— 5
. W That the Porte should be informed that we were unable to recognise
eir right to maintain a station on Bubiyan, and should be requested to with-
™ t * ie ; lr troops; while at the same time we should establish a post on behalf
ei h Mubarak on the northern end of the island opposite to the southern
aneiorage. Me pointed out that he had several boats, and could easily, with
small support from us, prevent Turkish troops from crossing the Khor Subbiyeh
or channel between Bubiyan and the mainland on the west.
(6) Should His Majesty’s Government deem it advisable to spare the
u an s susceptibilities by the adoption of a less pronounced course of action,
e suggested that our object might be secured by intimating that we regarded
u iyan Island as belonging to the Sheikh, and that, unless the Turkish force
were withdrawn, we should be constrained to support him in establishing a
no rth em shore to balance the Turkish posts at Um Kasr and
th • i j " c °hserved that in this case the Turks would probably retire, and
e is and would remain unoccupied. The Sheikh would then resume possession,
d i would only remain for us to carry out hereafter such further measures
might be necessary for the maintenance of our legitimate interests.
3. Since then, the following action has been taken :—
j, D 1 April 1904, His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople suggested to
, e ' ar d uess of Lansdowne that he should first remind the Porte of his pre-
ious remonstrances against the maintenance of a Turkish military station on
if 6 r tb - east corner the island and press for its withdrawal, and that then,
’ a er a lapse of some months, his representations had produced no effect, the
cond alternative intimation referred to above should be made to the Turkish
government.
Mhh May, Sir N. O’Conor was authorised to take action in accordance
• 1 . a 1 ? own suggestion, and on 18th May we were informed that, should the
m T? 011 rema i n l° r some time without effect, the active measures recom-
oaded in our despatch to you of 4th February would be considered further.