'Memorandum respecting Koweit' [‎147r] (9/27)

9
(43
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. ,
April 21.
May 10, 1900.
Admiralty,
May 19, 1900.
To 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. ,
May 31, 1900.
June 14, 1900.
Sir N. O'Conor,
No. 275.
August 7.
those parts, but that, in view of their great interests in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , thej could not view with indifference
any action which would alter the existing condition of
affairs or give another Power special rights or privi
leges over territory belonging to the Sheikh, with
whom Her Majesty s Government had certain Agree
ments."
Meanwhile, however, it was reported that the
German Railway Company had taken the matter
into their own hands, and were already making
arrangements for the construction of a pier.
Sir N. O'Conor suggested the appointment of
a British Secref Agent. 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. , when
consulted, replied that until the question of
policy was determined, the presence of a Secret
Agent would be a mere waste of money."
At this juncture the Admiralty forwarded a
report stating that two German steamers were
expected to go to Koweit, and inquired what
would be the policy of Her Majesty's Govern
ment in the event of a collision between Germans
and Arabs.
The reply was that Lord Salisbury " scarcely
thought that any definite instructions were neces
sary until soiT-e confirmation was received of the
reported intention of German ships to visit Koweit
or until there was some indication of the methods
of action they intended to pursue. If the con
struction of a pier were attempted by private
persons without a mandate from some recognized
authority, the Sheikh would be within his rights
in opposing such an attempt and, in this event,
if any action was to be taken by Her Majesty's
ships it should be in support of the Sheikh's
authority.''
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. concurred while pointing out
that the eventuality contemplated (in which
alone action was to be taken) would in all
probability never occur.
After the summer of 1900 various incidents
began to point to a renewal of Turkish interest
in Koweit.
In August the first of several attempts was
made to induce the Sheikh to visit Bussorah, and
Mubarak found some difficulty in avoiding direct
communication with the Turkish authorities.
In October the order of the Svetiaz was con
ferred upon him as " Kaimakam " of Koweit, and
the " Ikdam " of the 10th November announced
that at Mubarak's request a mosque erected by
him was to be called after the name of the
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