'File 19/139 I (C 60) Steamer for Bahrain and neighbouring ports' [‎49r] (110/160)

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TELEGRAM FROM VICEROY, TO SECRETARY OF [I
STATE FOR INDIA, DATED 13.12.23.
P. 1727, Please refer to your telegm-is dated 19th |
September and 14th November , Nos,3392 and, 4050. I
As you are aware, we are, on principle averse from |
commitments in regard to the hinterland of Arabia j
hut, treaty obligations, wliicb. we must of course j
observe, complicate the position in regard to Koweit, l
On the one hand, definite promise lias been given by I
Ibn Saud, himself, that he will refrain from all inter
ference with or aggression upon Koweit territories ;and
on the other hand, possession of the "town of Koweit !
and its boundaries" (whatever the exact meani ng of that
phrase may be) has been guaranteed by us to Ibn Subah |
family and, in our treaty with Ibn Saud, we have I
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apparently mentioned Sheikh of Koweit as one of the ^
protected Sheikhs. No allusion, earlier than April, ]
1922, to Ibn Saud * s suggestion that collection of his
customs dues should be made in town of Koweit, instead
of on his own frontier, can be traced in our records.
In addition, we have no detailed information, since
that date, regarding the course of His Majesty's
Government's negotiations with Ibn Saud on this point.
Our remark a are, therefore, given with diffidence, but,
prima facie, both our own and Ibn Saud 1 s engagements
would appear to be violated by Ibn Saud * s suggestion,
and latter, for this reason, should be opposed. If
this is done, automatic decrease in Ibn Baud's
influence in Koweit, will take place. Apart from our
obligations to protected Sheikhs, including Koweit,
we should welcome Ibn Sand's extension to sea, pre
ferably in port which he has himself developed. He
would thus be rendered more accessible to our naval
power