File 619/1907 Pt 3 'Arms Traffic:- Koweit Trade.' [‎308v] (621/720)

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It is often that Mubarak has not to pay for these arms and ammunition,
because if he had to do so, he would soon be reduced to poverty. A short time *
after this the English sent him a lakh One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. .
The Arab rebels cannot find a better help. You may remember that
Sheikh Sa’dun bin Mansur, the Sheikh of the Muttafik tribe, attacked a detach
ment of Turkish troops in December last, and then raided the suburbs of
Basrah. When he feared retribution he took refuge at Koweit, and remained
under the protection of English guns. After a few months he returned to his
place, but did not remain at peace. He plundered a Turkish Kafila A train of travellers; a caravan; or any large party of travellers. , and nothin^
was done to him. He is now residing in quiet and without any anxiety 5
The English have only one line of policy in this country, i.e., to incite the
rulers to oppress the people, and then to offer aid to the oppressed people and
gain their hearts. It were the English who pressed the Turkish Government
to deal severely with Mubarak bin Sabah, to secure peace to the country the
commerce, and the Turkish and the English subjects. When the Sublime
Porte acted in accordance with the advice given by the English and began to
bring pressure on Sheikh Mubarak, then they offered to protect Mubarak from
the danger, and the latter with his tribesmen placed himself under the British
protection.
I warn the high officials of the Sublime Government in a loud voice to be
careful about the intrigues of the English in Irak, because they are now cast-
uig greedy eyes upon that fertile land watered by two streams Irak excels
Egypt in fertility ; and he who possesses this land gets hold of all commerce of
the east from Anatolm, Arabia, India, the shores of China, Aghanistan Tibet
Khiva, Burma, and Siam. ’ ’
The scheme of the English is greater than what you suppose and dream.
If you allow things to go on as before, you will see tomorrow that this youns
man, Ibn-i-Saood, will become more important than necessary, and more serious
than you think. Then make use of artifice and not force, and seek aid of the
trench and Russians, in order to defend yourselves against this aggression-
nothing else will prevent thmr intrigues. The first step has been taken bv
them, but you shcmld prevent them from taking the second, before it could be
said, the rent has increased beyond the ability of the mender.”
5th October 1904:
A. EAHIM.
No. 3642 E. B., dated the 27th October 1904.
Endorsed by the Foreign Department.
A copy of the foregoing paper is forwarded to the Political Besident,
Translation of an article in Al-Ahram, dated -^ ers i ai1 Gulf, for information, and COm-
He ieth September 1904 . ’ munication to 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. , Mask at,
11 „ , . , a v i e w to his ascertaining, as far as
possible, the source from which the article emanated.
No. 567 , dated the 22nd (received 28 th) November 1904 . (Confidential.)
G ’ GEEYi P ° litical A S ent and His Britannic Majesty’s Consul,
To-The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
letter 1 ‘TfT'ca ,lerewith . for your information, a copy of
^°- 56 ®’ dated 22nd November 1904, which I have addressed to the
Political Besident in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire.
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No. 566, dated Maskat, the 22nd November 1904.
From—M ajor^ W, G. -Gw 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. and His Britannic Majesty's Consul.
To- Major P. Z. Cox, C. I. E., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. .
+r«e^ £ aVC fj 16 honour to reply to your demi-official letter forwarding an ex
tract from the journal Al-Ahram of Cairo which had been sent to you by the