'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎14v] (28/120)

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complications. He thought, however, that " acts of piracy and of regular
traffic in slaves would justify the interference of the Indian Government^ and
alfoid ground for coming to a direct and special arrangement with the Shaikh,
which need not necessarily be made public," and such acts were of frequent
occurrence.
11. At this stage (December 1898) more decisive action was precipitated
by the report of a Russian Railway Concession (Count Kapnist Concession)
from Tripoli in Syria to Kuwait.
It was then proposed to enter into a separate engagement which was to
take the form of a promise by the shaikh not to alienate any portion of his
territory to any foreign Power, and was to be considered distinct from the
question of an ultimate British Protectorate. The Imperial Government
merely availed themselves of the superior facilities for negotiation possessed by
the Government of India, while in no way pledging the latter to accept any
liability under any circumstances that might arise in the future. The proposi
tion for the establishment of a Protectorate was tacitly dropped, though the
Government of India were of opinion at the time that the proposed negotiations
would have a Protectorate as their final result.
On the 23rd January 1899, the Shaikh signed an Agreement pledging
Secret e., Mnrch 1899, Nos. 581-691. himself not only to cede no territory
i. TJ . T i » ut to rece ^ ve no foreign Representative
without British sanction. In return for this, he was promised the good offices
u ^ er Majesty's Government, and a payment was made of lis 15,000 f^om
the Bushire Treasury, half of which was recovered from Her Majesty's Gov
ernment. The Government of India were also authorised to instruct British
naval officers to prevent by force any attempt on the part of the Turks to
attack Kuwait.
The conclusion of the Agreement, however, involved a serious question
regarding the property of the Shaikh in Turkish territory. Aliens are bv
Turkxsh law precluded from holding landed property, and it was feared that
it the Shaikh were suspected of having agreed to a British Protectorate, the
lurkish autliomies would attempt to dispossess Mul)arak of lus pronerty near
lao. The hope was therefore, held out that the British Government would
do \uiat they could to protect him and his brothers in the matter.
12. Lifficulties with Turkey. —A local Quarantine Board on several
occasions attempted to impose illegal and vexatious restrictions on British vessels
in the Gulf, but its protests were disregarded when clearly contrary to tlie Venice
Con vent ton, and Colonel Meade understood that - the Quarantine arrangements
nnclei the Sanitary Board at Constantinople in no way implied that the Turks
Lave any sort ol jurisdiction or rights at Kuwait."
In September 1899 it was reported* that a Turkish Harbour master had
• Secret e., February 1900, noar 77.82. been appointed at Kuwait. This was
.1 r. , ,. . .j . . „ considered a more serious matter, and, for
• ! con f cl ^ s } on tlle Agreement, it was proposed to intimate
affairs interest taken by the British Government in the Shaikh's
After consultation with the 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. , Sir N. O'Conor was informed by
telegraph that his was not a matter we could recognise as depending on the
a aawts
MS^ Govtrnmelt.''^ 1811 0UStC,mS Wlth0Ut I,reVioUS a S rcement Wlth Her
A gunboat was ordered to Kuwait, hnt, at the suggestion of Sir N
O'Conor, .t was afterwards directed merely to call at Kuwait and tooome awav
It was easy, he thought, to watch Turkish action and to counteract it without
any hostile demonstration. The Government was inclined to be friendly and
• 0 dl , s ^ a,m ^ponsibility for the appointment, which had heen made by the
Naval Commandant at Basrah, and not by the central authority.
Admiral Douglas had reported in February that in ease of attack the Navy
token UIldeitake the deieQct ot Kuwait, and no further measures were