File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎22r] (48/566)

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CONFIDENTIAL-
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No, 34®°) dated Bushire, the l6th (received the 2^18) November IQ 13.
From-LIEUTENANT-COLONEL Sir Percy Cox, K.C.I.E., C.S.L, Political Resi
dent in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—-The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to submit for the information of the Government of India
No. 127-c., dated 13th September 1913. copies of three recent communications,
So! dat'd %\l addressed to me by HisBritannic Majesty’s
. Consul at Mohammerah, on subjects
connected with the interests primarily of the Shaikh and then of ourselves.
The letters discuss respectively
(i) The Mohammerah succession and Shaikh Khazal’s desire for an
unqualified assurance.
(ii) The possibility of the need by the Shaikh, in the near future, of a
European adviser.
(iii) The contingency of gendarmerie being sent to Arabistan.
2. I was absent most of October, and was also anxious, before addressing
Government, to have a further talk with the Shaikh and Major Haworth, on the
general outlook.
I have undertaken to do so before I leave ; meanwhile I beg to forward the
several communications for information, with the following brief comment
(i) Shaikh Khazal’s feelings are no doubt very much those displayed by
the Shaikh of Kuwait, as reported in my letter No. 3359, of 9th
instant. I feel confident that a formula could be found which
would satisfy them without committing us further.
(ii) I concur in thinking that developments may very likely incline the
Shaikh in this direction, but I will report further after seeing
him.
{iii) I have asked His Majesty’s Minister to be forewarned, in regard to
this possible contingency; but have no reason to think that any
grounds for the apprehension at present exist.
Enclosure No. 1.
No. 127-C., dated Mohammerah, the 13th September 1913.
From— MAJOR L. Haworth, His Britannic Majesty’s Consul for Arabistan,
To—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. , Bushire.
I have the honour to inform you that I have recently had a conversation of
great interest with Shaikh Khazal on the subject of his present heir Shaikh Chasib
and the succession.
This question, as you are aware, has been for some time exercising my mind
but it is one which, notwithstanding my desire to obtain definite information, has
been delicate ground to touch on either with the Shaikh or with any of his
people; thus the only person of importance with whom I have been hitherto able
to discuss the matter has been Haji Rais who frankly expressed his opinion of
the hopelessness of making anything of Shaikh Chasib, though the latter is his
own son-in-law.
Chasib is in some ways shrewd and intelligent but he appears wanting in any
of the qualities which go to make a ruler. His chief fault, from the Shaikh’s
point of view, has been his refusal to take any steps to ingratiate himself with
the chiefs of tribes upon whom his very Shaikhdom would depend and notwith
standing Haji Rais’s constant advice, he neglects all opportunities of entertaining
or seeing the “ gilits ” of the various sections which make up the Shaikh’s juris
diction.