File 619/1907 Pt 3 'Arms Traffic:- Koweit Trade.' [‎308r] (620/720)

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I find the following article in Al-A hr am, dated the 16th September 1904:
' Arabia.
From our special correspondent at Masqat.
It is now established that Ibn-i-Rashid has been defeated and Ibn-i-Saood
has gained victory.
But the report about the death of Ibn-i-Rashid is false ; also is the report
of Ibn-i-Saood capturing six guns of the Turkish troops untrue. Ibn-i-Saood
captured only one gun, while the remaining guns had been rendered useless by
the Turkish troops. The most important thing is that the Sheikh of Koweithas
given up his neutrality and has openly taken protection of the English. You
have heard that Mubarak Ibn i-Sabah sent a telegram to the Sublime Porte,
intimating that if the Turkish troops did not abstain from helping Ihn-i-Rashid
then he would assist Ibn-i-Saood, and seek protection of a foreign power, who
would protect him from all harm. He further added in the telegram that
foreign powers desire to extend their protection to the Arab Amirs, but the
latter prefer to remain subjects of His Majesty the Sultan.
But the Sublime Porte did not send him a reply. Consequently Mubarak
sought protection of the English, who have been trying to gain this object for
four years past.
On the 8th April 1903, Mr. Balfour stated in the House of Commons
that the Sheikh of Koweit had entered into special agreements with the
English. But the Sheikh repudiated this statement and said that he w^as subject
to the Sublime Porte. And now he has since two weeks openly renounced his
allegiance to the Sultan, and has permitted a British Consul to reside at
Koweit. The English have also established a post office there; and the
Consul is now endeavouring to open a small dispensary for the treatment of
the poor Arab sick freely.
In this way the English have got their footing and flag fixed in Koweit,
which is Turkish territory, by the consent of Sheikh Mubarak. Koweit is the
key of Arabia in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. . It is key of Irak, and the territory between
the two rivers, as the roads lead easily and without obstacles to the interior of
Irak from Koweit. In addition to this, Mubarak is on friendly terms with the
Sheikhs who reside along these roa<js. Mubarak has been helping all the
Sheikhs for a distance of 500 miles, who break out into rebellion, and he sup
plies them with arms and ammunition and other supplies they want. All what
he requires comes from India, and if it was not for the help of Mubarak the
said Arabs would not be able to rebel for want of supplies. Mail steamers
call once a week at Koweit via Maskat; and the Koweit merchants ship every
week hundreds of rifles and ammunition, etc., to Koweit. They have adopted a
well-known practice, i.e., they write on the cases containing firearms “ cases
containing sweetmeats;” and those holding cartridges, “dried limes.” The
customs officials at Maskat do not inquire about the contents of the cases,
while the English officers, who last year made such a noise, when they
found a Erenchman carrying six revolvers, shut their eyes when these cases
are concerned.
The customs officials at Bushire once opened one of these cases and found
fifty rifles in them, and a large number of cartridges. But the English Consul
came there and shut their mouths and pressed their hands, and prevented them
from making further inspection of the cases, and the arms were restored to the
owners, who took them over to Sheikh Mubarak.
Thus Ibn-i-Saood obtains his arms from Koweit and the latter from the
English ; and so the English are the agents, who supply the Arabs with arms.
I know as a fact that, had not the English made a present of four guns to
Mubarak, the latter would not have been able to capture Boreida, which is a
strong position and considered in Arabia to be invincible.
*