'Collection of papers respecting the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to the Bagdad Railway and the Purchase of Land at Koweit (amended version)' [‎2r] (3/34)

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information which is now available, wc believe that he would not have entertained this
view. With the shores of the mainland and of Bubiyan island in the possession of a
single Power, the anchorages below Urn Kasr and at Warbi island can at any time be
converted into an impregnable harbour, and even if the day is still distant when the
banks of the Khor Abdulla are likely to be armed with foreign forts or batteries, the
undivided occupation by a German Railway Company of a potentially invulnerable
position is not calculated to conduce to the enhancement either of British commercial
prosperity or of British political prestige. Supposing, however, that we are able to
make good Sheikh Mubarak’s claims, we at once place ourselves in a position to
establish, at the north end of Bubiyan Island, a post which would command not only \
the anchorage, but also the approaches up the Khor Abdulla, and we acquire the power :
to assert, in such a manner as our paramount interests demand, our right to participate
in all arrangements relative to the prospective terminus of the Anatolian Railway.
An additional argument, if any is needed, in favour of strengthening our position at
Bubiyan may, perhaps, be found in the fact that the khor is used as a place of
refuge by pirates whom the Turkish Government is unable to control, and who, as
shown in the Administration Report of the Rersian Gulf for 1902-1903, commit piracies
off Bubiyan.
6. His Majesty’s Government have never admitted the Turkish claim to the island,
and have, indeed, protested against the interference with the status quo involved in the
placing of a post at A1 Geit, where, prior to the month of February 1902, the Turks
had never pretended to exercise an authority even of the most shadow r y description, and .
where the total garrison now consists of so me six men. On the same occasion we were
informed by Lord George Hamilton that the British Government would resist a Turkish
adva nce on the Koweit side of Subbiyeh. This place is separated only by a channel
from the southern end ofllubiyan Island, and the claims of the Sheikh to both positions
seem to us to be of equal validity.
7 . The proposal accordingly which we submit for your consideration is that the
Porte should now be informed that we are unable to recognize their right to maintain
a station on Bubiyan, and should be requested to withdraw their troops; while at the
same time we should establish a post on behalf of Sheikh Mubarak on the northern end
of the island opposite to the southern anchorage. The Sheikh has always urged his
claims to this island, and during the Viceroy’s visit to Koweit he repeatedly asked why
the Turks were not compelled to evacuate both Bubiyan and Um Kasr, which belonged
to him. He has several boats, and could easily, with small support from us, prevent
Turkish troops from crossing the Khor Subbiyeh or channel between Bubiyan and the
mainland on the west. 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
think it possible that our object might be secured by intimating that we regard
Bubiyan Island as belonging to the Sheikh, and that, unless the Turkish force is with
drawn, we shall be constrained to support him in establishing a post on the northern
shore to balance the Turkish posts at Um Kasr and A1 Geit. In this case the Turks
would probably retire, and the island would remain unoccupied. The Sheikh w’ould
then resume possession, and it would only remain for us to carry out hereafter
such further measures as might be necessary for the maintenance of our legitimate
interests.
We have, &c.
(Signed) CURZON.
KITCHENER.
T. RALEIGH.
E. F.-G. LAW.
E. R. ELLES.
A. T. ARUNDEL.
DENZIL IBBETSON.
No. 2.
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.—(Received April 11.)
Sir, 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 11, 1905.
WITH reference to your letters of the 13th and 31st May, 1901, on the subject
of the Turkish military posts at Bubiyan Island, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Brodrick