File 3208/1908 Pt 1 ‘Persian Gulf: Dayir pirates (coast of Persia)’ [‎189v] (318/330)

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handle for the charge that we are directly encouraging the two Shaikhs in this
direction. In fact this charge has already
•Minister to Resident, No. 104 of 30 th June made by the Russian Legation, as
1907. _ .... .... . J , , 0 VI*
FMrst Assistant to Minister, No. 809 of 3^ July w iH be seen from the two telegrams cited,*
•s 0 ?* which passed after I left Bushire.
5. Regarding the matter from the standpoint of the Political Ag;ent at
Koweit, I quite understand Major Knox feeling hurt at Shaikh Mubarak’s
neglect , to consult him or to give him his confidence. On the other hand, put
ting myself in Shaikh Mubarak’s shoes, I cannot ignore the fact that any help
which was to be given to Shaikh Khazal must be given promptly if at all, and that
he has sufficient experience of our deliberate methods to know well enough that
by the time he could receive a reply to any reference made to us, the crisis would
long since have passed and Shaikh Khazal would have been defeated, or would
have won without his help.
On the whole, and unless the position becomes modified by further
diplomatic action on the part of Persia, Turkey, or Russia (to which we seem to
have a fairly practical answer), I cannot think that Shaikh Mubarak’s escapade,
if it be one, calls for the drastic notice advocated by Major Knox ; namely, (0 a
sharp remonstrance accompanied by force; or (it) the withdrawal of our
representative from Koweit.
I am rather inclined to consider that the case will be met by niy informing
Shaikh Mubarak, on behalf of Government, if necessary, that we quite sympathise
with him in his desire to prove a friend in need to his ally Shaikh Khazal, but feel
called upon to make it plain to him that by conveying arms and ammunition up
the Shatt-el-Arab in his private yacht without the authority or permission of the
Persian Government he ran great risk of placing himself in serious difficulties
with that Government or the Porte, from which we should have found great
difficulty in assisting him to extricate himself.
I have not got with me the text of our secret agreement with Shaikh
Mubarak, but if his action could be quoted as being inconsistent with that part
of the document dealing with his relations with foreign powers, so much the
better.
6. While expressing these views I quite realise that it would be possible to
regard this interesting incident in quite a different light to that in which it
presents itself to me; and I can do no more than commit the circumstances to
the wiser and more detached examination of Government.
I have not forwarded a copy of this communication to His Majesty’s
Minister, Tehran.
From-
No. 313 , dated Koweit, the 22 nd June 1907 .
-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. , Koweit,
To—-The Resident and His Britannic Majesty’s Consul-General in the Persian
Gulf, Bushire.
I have the honour to inform you of further details with reference to the
return of Shaikh Mubarak’s steam launch to this port on Wednesday last. The
vessel arrived about noon of the 19th with only Ali bin Khalifa and Suliman bin
Hamud aboard of her.
2. The interval between noon and sunset was busily employed in loading her
up with small arms and ammunition. This was all carried on without the small
est attempt at concealment in broad day-light and it is estimated that at least
2,000 rifles and a proportionate quantity of ammunition were put on board of
her.
3. I have already reported demi-officially that 1,500 rifles are said to have
gone with her on her first voyage. I have also reported that Shaikh Jabir bin
Mo’alla of the Nasser of Gasbah left for up-river. I only learnt the next morning
that he left in Shaikh Mubarak’s launch. g