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'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)' [‎10v] (20/34)

The record is made up of 1 file (17 folios). It was created in Sep 1907. 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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20
doubly politic measure at the present epoch when w T e have to contemplate the lively
probability both of German efforts for closer relations with Mubarak through the
medium of the Hamburg-American Line and of the necessity of inaugurating up-to-date
quarantine measures at Koweit, a project which will be one ot no small delicacy, and
which it is of the first importance that we should take in hand for him.
In making the foregoing observations I should mention that I have had in mind a
purely political subsidy. The Government of India must be well aware that any
payment intended to be compensatory for loss resulting to Sheikh Mubarak in
connection with the suppression of the Arms Traffic would have to be considered on a
considerably more liberal scale.
5. In the final paragraph of his last Report 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. suggests that it
would be as well for us to refrain from further discussion with fcheikh Mubarak for
two or three months ; nevertheless, if His Majesty’s Government are able to come to a
provisional decision in the meanwhile as to how far they are prepared to go in the
direction under correspondence, I should be glad it we could immediately be put in
possession of it in case Sheikh Mubarak should himself return to the question.
6. In conclusion, I trust that the Government of India, in reading the accompani
ments to this letter, will consider, as I do, that Major Knox deserves credit for the way
in which he is handling the negotiations.
Inclosure 4 in No. 11.
Major Knox to Major Cox.
Koweit, January 21, 1907.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that the acquisition of a landing-place near the
the harbour at Shweikh has been the subject of conversation at one or two interviews
held with the Sheikh of Koweit by me recently, and I found myself compelled to
accede to the Sheikh’s request that I should visit the spot with him and point out
exactly my requirements.
2. I was fortunately able to give the visit as innocent an aspect as was possible in
the circumstances, for Sheikh Mubarak went out on Saturday afternoon to see to some
alterations that he is having executed on his new steam-yacht, and I borrowed horses
from the Sheikh for myself and my wife, and on our arrival at Shweikh we put off in a
small boat and were shown over the yacht by the Sheikh. We all returned together to
the shore and walked a few yards westward until we reached the rocks of which I have
made mention in previous despatches, and there discussed the proposal.
3. The Sheikh had frequently told me that the Germans had attempted to treat
with him for this boat harbour and for Kathama Point; but he added a touch that was
new to me, for he said that when the Germans found themselves at the end of their
patience, they said that “ The Sultan has given us this, and we will seize it.”
4. The Sheikh expressed a preference for having the measurement in thara’as, of
\'hich, approximately, two go to the English yard. I asked that the length measurement
should be—along high-w r ater line, 600 thara’as, and back from that 200 thara’as; and
that, as regards the sea portion of the Concession, all the coast line in front of our
600 thara’as to the depth of 1 thara at the lowest tide should be included therein.
5. The Sheikh made no objection to all this, but as he made no mention of any
price I considered that enough had been done for one day, and left that for further
discussion.
6. It will be clear from all the above that the Sheikh will not let the land go for a
song, but if he should propose anything which is out of all proportion to the estimate of
the launch, I shall point out to him that Government is hardly likely to pay, say,
75,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. for the sake of a wharf for a launch worth 50,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , and suggest
that he ask the large price, and double length and breadth of the Concession, and grant
to a depth of 2 fathoms at lowest tides, when I shall be ready to place his proposal befoie
you for consideration.
7. As far as I may venture to judge from the Sheikh’s attitude during our
negotiations, he is really anxious to complete the bargain, whether on account of the
large price he expects he will be able to exact for the Concession, or, taking a larger
view, in the hope of binding the English closer to his interests. He has shown by
recent questions that he is watching the Bagdad Railway closely, and remarked, with

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The document, printed for the use of the Foreign Office, is a collection of letters and dispatches from 3 March 1904 to 16 September 1907, between the 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. and the Government of India on the purchase of land in Kuwait for the Baghdad Railway.

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1 file (17 folios)
Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation for this description commences at f 84, and terminates at f 100, since it is 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. An additional foliation sequence is also present in the bottom right-hand corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. These numbers are written in pencil, but are not circled.

Pagination: This section of the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

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'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)' [‎10v] (20/34), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B166a, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026639614.0x000015> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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