'Persian Gulf Gazetteer, Part I Historical and Political Materials, Précis of Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs, 1896-1904' [‎6] (23/132)

6
Namik Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. should govern Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. nor would it perhaps he surprising 1 , were his
entreaties disregarded, his political status being threatened that his barbarian instincts should
prompt him to a course of opposition which must either force on the apprehended event
or bring him into collision with His Majesty's Government in India.
The communication by sea between Koweit and Bussorah being constant and frequent
and by land not exceeding 3 days caravan journey I am inclined to believe that no great
sacrifice is involved in the temporary concession of its right by the British Indian Steam
Navigation Company.
I have no reason that the objections of the Sheikh of Koweit are dictated by mistrust
on his part of the disigns of the English. I attach indeed no credit whatever to the proposals
submitted to the Resident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by one Abu Isan as reported in Colonel Pelly'g
despatch to your address No. 60 dated 15th May 186H. This man is not even a native of
Koweit with whoso Chiefs he enjoys no more intimate relations than derive from his office
.of Conductor of Pilgrims and judging of the character of the individual from his class as it
is found in Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. . Active and energetic but thoroughly unprincipled, judging also
from the circumstances of his visit to Bushire I am of opinion that his mission, unaccredited
it was in respect to Koweit, was selfarrogated, and his object merely to acquire the merit of
discovering designs of which he argued the existence from the assumed importance of bis
connection with Mr. Palgrave.
Mr. Johnston informs me that since Abdul Aziz's mission to Baghdad Abdullah ee Saud
has shown himself very watchful of the course of affairs at Koweit, where an Agent on his
part resides
in^onguerily mfl 12 - In :l871 ' wllen Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. made a successful attempt to reduce the
i87i. ' Amir of Nejd to subjection, the Sheikh of Koweit declared himself on the
Turkish side, assumed the Turkish flag, and was instrumental in inducing other
Chiefs on the Arabian littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to imitate his example. For
his action he received the title of Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and was granted considerable tracts
of land in the neighbourhood of Fao. It would appear that about that time
a Turkish Custom House was established at Koweit, but it must have been
maintained for a short time only.
lieutenant Pride. 13 ' In 1876 Lieutena nt-Colonel Prideaux, the Acting Resident at Bushire,
aux't report 1876. enumerated as the principal Turkish ports on the Arab side of the Persian
Gulf, Koweit, Katif, and Ojair. In May 1878 the Government of India pro
posed " that from Busrah to Ojair " (which is situated on the coast considerably
to the south of Koweit) " the authority of the Porte should be recognised as
established on land, but that at sea the British Government should continue to
exercise some concurrent Protectorate, pursuing pirates if necessary, into
Turkish waters and dealing with them wherever found, whether at sea or on
shore, within certain limits through the Eesident in the Gulf." This proposal
was discussed by the Foreign Office and somewhat modified.
Lord Saiisbvrv't n- ^ Ia a des P atcl1 ' dat . od tllG 5tl1 January 1879, Lord Salisbury authorised
Despatch of 1879. ' Layard, then British Ambassador at Constantinople, to propose to the
Porte an arrangement by which British ships of war should be instructed to
pursue their operations for the repression of piracy, as far as possible, outside
the territorial waters of the Arabian mainland north of Odeid, but also should
have authority to pursue and capture piratical vessels within the 3 miles limit on
that part of the coast, wherever this might seem indispensable to the attainment
of their object. This arrangement, which would by implication have admitted
Turkish territorial sovereignty as far south as Odeid (which is south of Ojair),
was mentioned by Sir A. jLayard to the Turkish Prime Minister for Foreign
Affairs, and submitted by them to the Council of Ministers, but got no further.
Instructions to Sir 15, ln Au » ust ls88 » in consequence of a report that the Turkish Govern-
JF. White, 1888.
ment contemplated an attack on Oman, Sir W. White was instructed that Her
Majesty's Government recognised Turkish jurisdiction on the coast as far as
Katif and were anxious that it should be effectively exercised within those
limits. Beyond that point Her Majesty's Government considered the chiefs to
be independent. (Katif, though situated to the north of Oiair and Odeid. is
still considerably south of Koweit).
.. White in reply called attention to some recent practical asser-
Turkish junsdichon south of Katif, and represented that it would be
d imcult to lay down that Katif was the hard and fast limit beyond which
1873*m qUeStiOI1Ofth0 Turkish 8 P bere of in the Arabian littoral is fully treated in the Katar Freeis,