'File 53/7 D (D 7) Koweit [Kuwait] Affairs, January 1905 - December 1905' [‎135r] (278/366)

No. 57 of 1905.
government of india.
foreign department.
SEC RET.
External.
To
Thk Right Hon'ble St. JOHN BROUPJCK,
Mis Maj
Fort William,
Sir,
f | haVe t 1 '® Il , ono,lr 1 torefe'-tooiir despatch No. 25 (Seeret-ExternaU
0 -t. -February 1904, and to the subsequent telegraphic correspondence
ending with your telegram of 18th May 1905, on the subject of the measures that
should he taken to obtain the evacuation of Bubiyan Island by the Turkish
troops which are at present stationed there.
2. In that despatch we submitted, for your consideration, the following
alternative proposals :— 5
{a) That the Porte should be informed that we were unable to recognise
their right to maintain a station on Bubiyan, and should be requested to with-
draw their troops; while at the same time we should establish a post on behalf
ot Sheikh Mubarak on the northern end of the island opposite to the southern
anchor?ige. We pointed out that he had several boats, and could easily, with
small support from us, pie vent Turkish troops from crossing the Khor Subbiyeh
or chatmei between Bubi^an and the mainland on the west.
(b) Should His Majesty's Government deem it advisable to spare the
Sultan's susceptibilities by the adoption of a less pronounced course of action,
we suggested that our object might be secured by intimating that we regarded
Bubiyan Island as belonging to the Sheikh, and that, unless the Turkish force
were withdrawn, we should be constrained to support him in establishing a
post on the northern shore to balance the Turkish posts at Um Kasr and
Al Geit. We observed that in this case the Turks would probably retire, and
the island would remain unoccupied. The Sheikh would then resume possession,
and it would only remain for us to carry out hereafter such further measures
as might be necessary for the maintenauce of our legitimate interests.
3. Since then, the following action has been taken :—
In April 1904, His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople suggested to
the Marquess of Lansdowne that he should first remind the Porte of his pre
vious remonstrances against the maintenance of a Turkish military station on
the south-east corner of the inland and press for its withdrawal, and that then,
if, after a lapse of some mouths, his representations had produced no effect, the
secoud alternative intimation referred to above should be made to the Turkish
Government.
On 10th May, Sir N. O'Conor was authorised to take action in accordance
with his own suggestion, and on 18th May we were informed that, should the
intimation remain for some time without effect, the active measures recom
mended in our despatch to you of 4th .February would be considered further.