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'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Koweit Affairs, 1896-1904' [‎19r] (37/128)

The record is made up of 1 volume (64 folios). It was created in 1904. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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25
his gardens near Pao. He sugsrested tliat as soon as he reported about the
actual move of troops to Fao, the British Ambassador should be directed to
enquire what the object of the movement was, and that he should inform the
Porte that we would not permit an attack to be made on Koweit, and that then
the several questions about the Sheikh of Koweit could be discussed and settled
diplomatically between the two Governments, namely, (1) the status of the
Sheikh; (i) his right to the estates near Eao.
87. In his letter No, 58, dated 7th May 1899, Colonel Meade reported that
, „ XT the Vali of Basrah (Hamdi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ) was
No. 112 of Secret E., June 1899, Nos. 94—119. vi i j. oi,
likely to encourage Sheikh rasim or
Katar, Yusuf-bin-Ibrahira of Dora and the Chief of Shammar to take some
action against the Sheikh of Koweit, that Mubarak's nephews had gone from
Zobeir to Basrah probably to push their claims to the estates in Eao before the
Courts, reckoning on the sympaties of the Vali. As regards Mubarak s status,
Colonel Meade thought that his acceptance of the title of Kai-Makam from the
Turks could not affect his position as an independent Chief. Such a title had
been held by his predecessors without their independence being affected. Colo
nel Meade added:—
" It would certainly have been more satisfactory if we could have come to an arrangement
about Koweit in 1897, before the Sheikh was offered Turkish recognition, but 1 atn of
opinion that neither he nor his predecessors have considered that any recognition or title bes
towed by the Sultan affects their independent position at Koweit itself, and that the title
of Kaim-Maham, when accepted, has been chiefly regarded as referriny to their estates in Turkey,
the possession of which is undohtedly a source of weakness to them, as they are liable to be
constantly harassed in regard to those properties by Turkish officials. Ihey consider, probably,
that the title of Kaim Makam gives them an official position in return, and enables them to
meet official attacks. Sheikh Mubarak was well aware that whatever recognition he might
have received from the Sultan, would be of little avail if it suited the Turks to support his
nephews against him, and he himself welcomed the opportunity of obtaining our support.
There is no doubt, too, that, whatever may have been done to re-assure the Sheikh by offering
him recognition and a title, the Turks have, for some time, been waiting for a favourable
opportunity to interfere actively iu Koweit affairs, with the object of completely absorbing it
in the Turkish Empire. Ihis will be the ulterior object of their interference whatever side
they take."
88. The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. further proposed that, as the Turkish Govern
ment was likely to oppose the establishment ol our influence, au least one gun
boat should be kept at Koweit, pending settlement of the Sheikh s status. He
also suggested that a secret news agent should be appointed at Koweit.
89. The Government of India approved of the last two proposals and the
Military Department was directed to arrange to keep the Lapwing in the
Shat-el-Arab or at Buahire for the time.
90. It was also decided that if Colonel Meade could get a reliable man
to act as secret news-agent for lis. 50 a month, he should be allowed to do so
temporarily and experimentally,
91. Sheikh Mubarak seemed anxious at the time to precipitate matters
against the Porte, probably dependent upon the support of the British. About
May lb99 he established a Customs Department at Koweit and imposed an
import duty of 5 per cent, ctd valo^Cni on all goods arriving at the poit, in-
eluding goods from Basrah and other Turkish ports, which had been previously
exempted from duty on presentation of a certific'ite from the Turkish Custom
Houses. Colonel Meade in reporting this fact (letter No. 62, dated I tth May
1899) expressed fears that the Sheikh's
No. 114 of secret e ., June 1899, Ncs. 94 -119. ac tion might precipitate some move against
him on the part of the Turks. It was, however, believed that the I oite would
first incite the chiefs of Shammarand Katar and other Arab Chiefs to make
raids against Koweit and then herself interfere as peace-maker to tlie detriment
of Koweit.
92. In submitting Colonel Meade s letters Nos. 51, 58 and 63 lefcrred to
above, the Government of India observed
No. UC of Secret E., June 1894, Nos. 94.1iy. (D es p a tch No - 101 » dated lst J Un0
1899)—

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Content

The volume, stamped ‘Secret’ on the front cover and frontispiece, is part 1 (historical and political materials) of a précis of Kuwait (spelt Koweit throughout) affairs for the years 1896-1904. It was prepared by Jerome Antony Saldanha of the Bombay Provincial Civil Service, and published in 1904 by the Government of India Foreign Department, Simla, India.

The volume includes a preface (folio 4), list of contents (folio 5) and list of appendices (folio 6). The sections listed in the contents run as follows:

  • I: Brief History of Koweit from circa 1716 to 1896 A.D.;
  • II: Murder of Mahomed bin Subah [Muḥammad bin Ṣabāḥ] and his brother Jarrah [Jarrāḥ bin Ṣabāḥ] by Mubarak [Mubārak] and Mubarak’s succession, 1896;
  • III: (1) Proposed Turkish Quarantine at Koweit, (2) views of the Government of India and India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. ;
  • IV: Haripasa Piracy case. Warning to Sheikh of Koweit. Question of Protectorate over Koweit raised - 1895-1896;
  • V: Threatened attack of Sheikhs Jasim bin Thani [Jāsim bin Muḥammad Āl Thānī] and Yusuf bin Ibrahim [Yūsuf bin Ibrāhīm] on Koweit. Question of Protectorate over Koweit discussed 1897-98;
  • VI: (1) Movements of Turkish troops towards Koweit, (2) Russian intrigues, (3) Question of Protectorate over Koweit further discussed;
  • VII: Proposed British Protectorate over Koweit. Agreement with the Sheikh of Koweit, December 1898 - May 1899;
  • VIII: Porte's complaints against British proceedings at Koweit as infrigement of quarantine regulations, May 1899;
  • IX: (1) Threatened attack on Koweit by the Turks, (2) Defence of Koweit, February - March 1899;
  • X: (1) Question of status of the Sheikh of Koweit, (2) Turkish activity in the neighbourhood, (3) Imposition of customs duty by Sheikh, March - June 1899;
  • XI: Turkish attempts to exercise soverign rights on Koweit, by appointing harbour master and opening a custom house. A forward Turkish policy advocated. The British Government's protest. July - September 1899;
  • XII: Sheikh Mubarak's diffidence in the British and desire of Persian protection. September - October 1899;
  • XIII: Appointment of Muhsin [Muḥsin] Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. as Vasli of Basrah. Change of policy inaugurated. Turkish Decoration for Sheikh Mubarak 1899;
  • XIV: Visit of the German Railway Commission to Koweit and their scheme to make Katham their Railway's Terminus, January 1900;
  • XV: Proposal to make Koweit a Port of call for Mail steamers July 1900 - June 1901;
  • XVI: Threatened hostilities between the Sheikh of Koweit and Amir of Nejd [Najd];
  • XVII: Renewal of hostilities between the Sheikh of Koweit and the Amir of Nejd , December 1900 - May 1901;
  • XVIII: (1) Ibn Rashid [Ibn Rasīd] seeks British protection, (2) Sheikh Mubarak asks for assumption of permanent British protectorate over Koweit, May - June 1901;
  • XIX: (1) Threatened attack on Koweit by Amir of Nejd and the Turks, (2) Measures for defence of Koweit, (3) Attempt to settle difference between the Sheikh and Amir amicably, July - October 1901;
  • XX: Question of defence of Koweit by sea and land, 1899-1901;
  • XXI: Question of discontinuance of the use of the Turkish flag at Koweit, August - September 1901;
  • XXII: Attempt to take the Sheikh of Koweit to Constantinople, November and December 1901;
  • XXIII: Alarm at Koweit and Landing of British Guns, December 1901 - January 1902;
  • XXIV: Prohibition of exports to Koweit from Turkish territory and movements of the Amir of Nejd, December 1901 - January 1902;
  • XXV: Dispute about the Fao [al-Fāw] Estates, December 1901 - January 1902;
  • XXVI: Occupation of Um Kasr [Umm Qaṣr], Bubyan [Būbīyān] Island and Subbiyah [al-Ṣubīyah] by the Turks, January - March 1902;
  • XXVII: Complaints against the proceedings of the British Officer and the Sheikh of Koweit, March 1902;
  • XXVIII: Sheikh Mubarak's offers of reconciliation with the Porte, March 1902;
  • XXIX: Arrest of agent of Sheikh Mubarak at Basrah and his imprisonment, May - December 1902;
  • XXX: Further movements of Ibn Rashid (2) Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Azīz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān bin Fayṣal bin Sa‘ūd] in the field again, and captures Riadh [Riyadh], January, November 1902;
  • XXXI: (1) Fear of Renewal of hostilities between Ibn Rashid and Sheikh Mubarak, (2) The Sheikh warned not to involved himself in difficulties with Nejd or the Turks, (3) Application of the Sheikh for guns, August - October 1902;
  • XXXII: Threatened attack on Koweit from Mubarak's nephews and Sheikh Yusuf-el-Ibrahim. Lapwing case. September 1902 - January 1903;
  • XXXIII: Ibn Rashid near Koweit and Sheikh Mubarak's movements, December 1902 - February 1903;
  • XXXIV: Fao Estates' dispute, February 1903-04;
  • XXXV: Importance of Khor Abdulla [Khawr ‘Abdullāh] as a future Railway terminus, etc. 1904;
  • XXXVI: Recent movements of Ibn Rashid, January 1903 - March 1904;
  • XXXVII: Montefik Arabs [al-Muntafiq] seek Russian protection, (2) Revolt of Sadun [Sa‘dūn] Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ;
  • XXXVIII: Advance of a loan made to Sheikh Mubarak, March - May 1904;
  • XXXIX: Opening of a British post office at Koweit, 1901-1904;
  • XL: Appointment of British Agent at Koweit. June 1899 - August 1903;
  • XLI: (1) Turkish aid to Ibn Rashid, (2) Proposed British protest, (3) Appointment of 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. at Koweit, April - October 1904.

The Appendices are as follows:

Extent and format
1 volume (64 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged divided into forty one (identified by Roman numerals), which are followed by ten appendices (lettered A to J). There are paragraph numbers that are continuous throughout the whole volume, beginning on 1 at the start of the first section, and ending on 351 in the final section. A contents page and list of appendices are at the front of the volume (folios 5-6).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'Persian Gulf Gazetteer. Part I. Historical and Political Materials. Précis of Koweit Affairs, 1896-1904' [‎19r] (37/128), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/20/C239, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023515249.0x000027> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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