'Persian Gulf précis. (Parts I and II)' [‎26r] (51/120)

CHAPTER VIII.
Um Kasr, Bubiyan and Warba.
Reference has been made* to the Turkish occupation of Um Kasr and
•seepage31, ante. Bubiyan by the Turks in 1902 and to Sir
t/iirf, page 32, on<e, O'Conor's reportf that he had inform
ed the Porte that the Turkish occupation could not be regarded as prejudicing
the Shaikh of Kuwait's rights and authority over the places. During Lord
Curzon's tour in the Gulf in 1903, the Shaikh repeatedly urged his claims to
Bubiyan and asked why the Turks were not compelled to evacuate both Um
Kasr and Bubiyan.
The subject was discussed in the despatch from the Government of
sec^t e., march 1904, nt>a. 2oo-ioi. Ma of February 1904.. It was held
that the claims of Kuwait, so far as
concerns Um Kasr and the neighbouring mainland, were not apparently s r ron^,
but, whatever their validity, the time for successful pr test had' passed.
Bubiyan was entirely on a different footing. The question of the importance
of the shores of the mainland and of Bubiyan island were noticed. It was
considered that the Shaikh had claims to the islard which ould be maintained
with prospect of success. It Mas suggested that the Porte be informed that
its claims to maintain a station on Bubiyan could not be recognised and that
Turkish troops should be withdrawn, a British post, beina: at the same time
established on the northern end of the island on behd? of the Shaikh. As a
less pronounced course of aciior, it was recommended thai, the Porte
should be informed that His Majesty's Government regard the island as belong
ing to the Shaikh, and that, unless the Turkish foree was withdrawn, thev
would be compelled to support the Shaikh in establishing a po^t on the northern
shore of the island to balance the Turkish posts at Um Kasr and A1 Geit.
The matter remained unsettled, and three years later assumed a dilferent
aspect in connection with the Baghdad Bail way and the Bunder Shweikh
Secret 1908. No,. 64.108. foreshore agreement In October 1907,
an inter-aepartmental conrerence was
held on the question of the Basrhdad Bailway terminus. They reported (^nd
October 1907) that the three places best suited for a terminus were Bunder
Shweikh, Wsrba roads including Um Kasr, and Basrah. On the 3rd November,
the Government of India informed the Secretary of S ate that, owing to a
misunderstanding on the part ot the Political Agenr, Kuwait, the Bunder
Shweikh foreshore agreement included a clai^e, giving the British Government
right of pre-emption to the entire island of Warba, and they subsequentlv
reported that, in their opinion, the inclusion in the lease of this rii:ht, which
merely conveyed to them the Shaikh's rights for what they were worth, could
not embarrass them, even if the Shaikh's title to the island was doubtful. In
a letter, dated the 12th November, Sir E. Grey entirely concurred that, " it
would be desirable to assert any rights which the Shaikh of ivuwait may possess
in respect of Warba island, though he is of opinion that, even if it were not
possible to substantiate those claims, the S iaikh's jurisdiction over Bubiyan,
should be resolutely supported by His Majesty's Government on the grounds
so forcibly stated " in the Government of India's despatch of February i90Ji.
The views of the Government of India on the subject were confirmed by
the Departmental Committee's report, and on the 20th November 1907 the
n. xt v ion« v 9 « a 9«7 former were asked to ascertain the
Secret E., November 1908, Noi. 264-267. . . . ol ., l . i • i i
rights of the Shaikh to W arba island. On
10th September 1908, the Government of India replied : —
^a) that the 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. 's enquiries confirmed their previous views
as regards Bubiyan ;
(6) enquiry was made if His Majesty's Government contemplated
addressing the Porte;
(c) as regards the coast line from Um Kasr to Sabiya, the Shaikh's
claims were not fully established and further enquiries were being
made;