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File 1247/1912 Pt 1 'Turkey:- Communication to Turkish Govt of agreement between Gt. Britain and Koweit, Bahrein & Trucial Chiefs. Decorations for Sheiks of Koweit, Mohammerah & Bahrein in connection with Anglo-Turkish Convention.' [‎133v] (186/336)

The record is made up of 123 folios. It was created in 19 Oct 1896-24 Sep 1913. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: 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. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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Hi ere seems no objection to the communication of the Agreement
ol ^4th May 1900 (arms traffic), or 28th February 1904 (post office).
M ith reference to the final paragraph of your letter I am to observe that,
since it is not proposed to communicate to the Turkish Government a
complete set of our agreements with Koweit, the previous understanding
suggested in that paragraph seems more than we have a right to
demand.
^ 3.- Bahrein and the Trucial Chiefs. I am to enclose copies of these V-AnK —
Treaties extracted en bloc from Aitchison’s “ Treaties, Engagements, and
Sanads,’ and to say that Lord Crewe sees no reason why they should not
be communicated if Sir E. Grey thinks fit. But it seems expedient to
remind the Porte that British rights in the Gulf and on the coast rest not
merely on the agreements concluded, but on the custom, consent, and
Jong established relations between the local chiefs and the Government
of India.
I am, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State, R. Ritchie.
Foreign Office.
Enclosure Xo. 3.
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. to Foreign Office.
(Immediate.) 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. ,
^ r > _ 30th October 1911.
With reference to this Office letter of the 11th September
regarding the communication to the Turkish Government of our treaties
with Koweit and other states in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , I am directed by the
Secretary of State for India to inform you that on a further consideration
oi the terms in which the Government of India proposed to define our
obligations towards the Sheikh of Koweit he finds himself no longer able
to concur in them.
The telegrams of 4th December 1901 and 14th October 1902,
on which the Government of India appear to base the obligation to
protect Koweit b}- land and sea, in the Marquess of Crewe’s opinion
clearly refer only to the incidents that occasioned them, and cannot be
understood to have given any general undertaking. Xor, in view of the
fact that it has since been decided that our obligations extend to the
whole of the Sheikh’s territory as described in Lorimer’s Gazetteer,
would it be safe to pledge ourselves to any specific method of defending
them. As was pointed out by Lord Morley in this Office letter of 8th
April last, the term “ good offices ” (which by Colonel Meade’s letter of
23rd Janurry 1899 we undertook to accord to the Sheikh) is a con
veniently vague one, and Lord Crewe is of opinion that it is neither
necessary nor safe to go beyond it. The action taken by His Majesty’s
Government in 1901-02, when men and guns were landed at Koweit to
defend it against unprovoked Turkish aggression, will moreover have
made it plain to the Porte in what way we are prepared to interpret the
term if necessity arises.
His Lordship would, therefore, suggest that the formula should run
“As regards Xo. 1 His Majesty’s Government have informed the Sheikh
of Koweit that so long as he and his heirs and successors act up to
“ their obligations under the Agreement His Majesty’s Government
“ undertake to support them and accord them their good offices.” With
perhaps the addition that His Majesty’s Government reserve to them
selves the right to interpret that term at their discretion.
1 have, Ac.,
The Under Secretary of State, R. Ritchie.
Foreign Office.

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Content

The correspondence relates to the Anglo-Turkish Convention and assistance provided by the Shaikhs of Koweit [Kuwait] and Mahommerah [Khorramshahr] in the negotiation process, which results in the decision to bestow the award of KCSI (Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India) on both Shaikhs.

Also discussed are:

  • the negotiations between the Ottoman Government and the Bagdad Railway Company;
  • a request by the Turkish Government for copies of agreements and conventions made by the British Government with Koweit, Bahrein [Bahrain] and the Trucial Chiefs;
  • the decision to also bestow honours of a CSI (Companion of the Order of the Star of India) on Shaikh of Bahrein and CIE (Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire) on Haji Rais, trusted confident and adviser to the Shaikh of Mahommerah.

The principal correspondents include the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Sir Edward Grey), the Secretary of State for India (Viscount Morley of Blackburn, Lord George F Hamilton, and Lord Crewe), the Viceroy of India (Lord Curzon, Earl of Minto), the 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. (Percy Zachariah Cox), the Foreign Secretary to the Government of India (Arthur Henry McMahon), and representatives of the Foreign Office.

Extent and format
123 folios
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence for this description commences at f 86, and terminates at f 208, as part of a larger physical volume; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

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File 1247/1912 Pt 1 'Turkey:- Communication to Turkish Govt of agreement between Gt. Britain and Koweit, Bahrein & Trucial Chiefs. Decorations for Sheiks of Koweit, Mohammerah & Bahrein in connection with Anglo-Turkish Convention.' [‎133v] (186/336), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/262/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026446594.0x000048> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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