'File 53/44 II (D 36) Sheikh Mubarak's Fao and Faddaghiya Properties' [‎5r] (22/48)

[This Docameat is Uie Property ot His Bntanmc Majesty's Government.]
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[February 8.]
Section 2.
[6026]
No. 1.
J-
Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edicard Grey.—{Received February 8.)
(No. 88.)
Sir, Constantinople, February 4, 1913.
WITH reference to my despatch No. 797 of the 31st October, and to my telegram
No. 246 of the 12th November, 1910,1 have the honour to forward herewith a despatch
from His Majesty's consul at Bussorah reporting that the authorities have waived their
objections to the registration of the property of Sheikh Mubarek of Koweit and Sheikh
Khazal of Mohammerah.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
BUSH! RE R:S!DENCY.
Reg No
Enclosure in No. 1.
CONflOcNTiAL h£C0H0S.
Consul Crow to Sir G. Lowther.
(No. 2.)
Sir, Bussorah, Januarg 11, 1913.
WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject of the refusal of the
authorities at Bussorah to permit the registration of laud and house property in the
names of Sheikh Mubarek of Koweit and Sheikh Khazal of Mohammerah, 1 have the
honour to report as follows :—
A telegram has been received from Constantinople by the vilayet to the effect that
the services of Sheikh Khazal and Sheikh Mubarek are highly esteemed by the
Government, and that the Sultan is pleased with them. _
The acting vali, Ali Reza Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , on receipt of this telegram, sent Ahmed Nairn
Bey to Failieh to inform the sheikhs, but as they were absent he has decided to
communicate the message to them by letter.
As regards the question of Sheikh Khazal, it will be remembered that in the time
of Suleiman Nazif Bey the Tapoo office were instructed by Constantinople not to
register any property in Sheikh Khazal's name. More recent instructions have been
received by this department, allowing the sheikh to acquire property in houses and
shops, and I hear that Sheikh Khazal has now begun to purchase houses.
I am informed that after Hassan Reza Bey, former vali, left Bussorah, Sheikh
Mubarek wrote to the vilayet asking why his land purchases were not allowed to be
registered in his name. He stated that he had rendered good service to the Ottoman
Government in the time of Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , former Vali of Bagdad, by going to Hassa
and driving bin Saoud out of that district, and that he had always paid his taxes and
given pecuniary assistance to the Government. He urged that the authorities should
not suppose that he bought the land for other people, as they could do so themselves,
and it was unreasonable to imagine that they wanted his assistance. He asked for a
clear statement of the objections to his purchases.
I am informed that Sheikh Khazal also wrote to the vilayet in similar terms,
stating that he preserved good relations with the local authorities, and often captured
runaway criminals and returned them to Bussorah. He asked for the reasons of their
refusal to the registration of his land.
Both sheikhs requested that instructions might be issued permitting the
registration of property in their respective names. The Administrative Council
discussed the matter and decided to support the requests of both sheikhs, informing
the Minister of the Interior that there was no objection to register the lands acquired
by Sheikhs Khazal and Mubarek in their respective names, and pointing out that Sheikh
Mubarek had given £ T. 500 towards the relief of the sufferers in the fire at
Constantinople, and £ T. 3,000 to the war fund during the Turco-Italian War ; and
that Sheikh Khazal had given £ T. 400 to the Turco-Italian War fund, and £T. 300
during the present war. Ali Reza Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the present acting vali, wired on his arrival
[2808 h—2]