'British interests on the coast of Arabia, Koweit, Bahrein and El Katr' [‎1v] (2/4)

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is lield to end, except in so far as our proceedings at Ivoweit influence the
attitude of the Turks towards us in El Katr and Bahrein.
The questions at issue at present with the Turks at Koweit are :—
(1) The status of our Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. . —Major Knox was sent in August
1904 to Koweit in connection with the difficulties arising from Turkish
complaints that the Sheikh was supporting Urn Saoud (the \ alr.ihi), who
had defeated Ihn llashid (the Turkish protege) in Nejd, and whose successes
seem sufficient to threaten the continuance of Turkish rule in the interior.
The Turks, who apparently believe tiiat we are instigating the Sheikh of
Koweit to support Ihu Saoud, at once complained oi: Major Knox s appoint
ment. We replied that the appointment was not a permanent one, but
that we reserved the right of sending an officer to Koweit at our " uncon
trolled discretion" to report and "ensure the continuance of the modus
vivendi " which had been arrived at. We also instructed the Government
of India (26th November 1904) that Major Knox might remain at Koweit
for the present, that he was to be withdrawn after a "■ reasonable interval,"
and that before leaving he was to inform the Sheikh that he would repeat
his visits, and that the date of his return would depend on the course of
events. The present, position is governed by these instructions. It should
be added that the Resident recently repoited that the Sheikh of Koweit was
going with Ibn Saoud to Jiasra to come to terms with the Turks. Other reports,
However, say that the Turks are organising a military expedition on a large
scale to put down Ibn Saoud and the Wahabi movement. Major Knox's
instructions are that he is not to say or do anything to connect us even
indirectly with the warfare now in progress in the interior, and that he is to
repeat to the Sheikh the warning to avoid entanglements in the interior
given him by Lord Curzon personally when he visited Koweit.
(2.) Buhian Island. —The island is apparently a de-olate mud-flat, where
Kow« it fishermen have certain rights. It is of importance as commanding
one bank of the Khor Abdullah, which will presumably be the channel of
approach to the harbour at the terminus of the Baghdad Railway. In 1902
Sir N. O'Conor protested against the action of the Turks in placing a military
pest (of some 10 men, relieved at intervals from lao) on the island. In
May 1904 Sir N. O'Conor reverted to the subject, saying that unless the
post w T as withdrawn, it would be necessary to ra se the question ' in a more
unpleasant form." The action to be taken, in event of a Turkish failure to
voluntarily withdraw this post, has been reserved for consideration. The
proposal of the Government of India was either to insist on Turkish with
drawal or to allow the Sheikh to establish a post of his own.
Bahrein.
Our relations with Bahrein are governed by the treaty already mentioned.
The island is situated in a deep bay : it faeces on the west the Turkish district
of Katif, and, on the east, the peninsula of El Katr, in which we do not
recognise Turkish authority. The place is of importance as the centre of
the pearl fisheries of the Gulf. It is also the icsidence of a number of
British Indian traders, whose export trade in dates from Katif has recently
cnusrd some difficulty with the Turkish Government owing to the extortions
of the loeal Turkish authorities.
We do not recognise Turkish authority in Bahrein. In 1895 we forcibly
dispersed, in the interests of the Bahrein' Sheikh, a settlement of malcontents
who had established themselves at Zobara, on the Katr coast, under the
Turkish flag. The Turks protested, but His Majesty's Government stated
in reply that they did not recognise Turkish jurisdiction on the Katr coast
and " must repeat once more that all Turkish claims to Bahrein, which is
under the protection of the Queen of England, are totally inadmissible."
[Note Verhale of 12th August 1895.)
In 1901 Sir N. O Conor, reporting on the action of the Government of
India in recognising the Sheikhs eldest son as his successor, said that any
arrangement which strengthened our authority over Bahrein must be regarded
with satisfaction, and added that ho would welcome the news that a British
or British Indian subject had been appointed Director oi the Bahrein Customs
as a material proof of our authority over the island. Sir N. O'Conor further