File 345/1908 Pt 2 'Mohammerah: situation. Sheikh's dispute with the Vali of Basra. decoration for Sheikh. renewed assurances to Sheikh.' [‎180v] (365/566)

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conversation yesterday told me personally that the orders as reported in my
telegram were sent by Minister of Interior at his desire. The Vali said they
were worded as follows : — tl To take 20 gendarmes and one sergeant from
the tribes subject to the Shaikh of Kuwait.” The choice of men, so the Vali
said, was left to Mubarak but he was required to guarantee them. My Russian
Colleague saw an announcement to the same effect in the Turkish newspaper
“ Iqaz”. I also heard from the Mutasarrif of Hasa, who was present, that the
men were wanted for a gendarmerie camel corps at Hasa but he said they had
not been collected yet.
No. 1135, dated Bushire, the 10th May 1910.
From— Lieutenant-Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S.I., C.I.E., 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. ,
To—H is Britannic Majesty's Consul, Basrah.
With reference to your note of 16th April and the enquiry made by His
Majesty’s Embassy in reply to your telegram No. 12 of 18th April, I have the
honour to inform you that 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. at Kuwait made enquiries from
Shaikh Mubarak whose own version of what passed is as follows:—That the real
facts were that the Vali had asked Shaikh Mubarak for some 20 or 30 men
from Kuwait for the gendarmerie in Hasa for whom the Vali would supply a
Commander, pay, food and clothing. Sheikh Mubarak said his own men were
engaged in their own occupations and there were none he could call on for
service of the kind required, far from their homes, but if the Vali wanted Arabs
there were Nejada Camel-men and the like from Central Arabia to be found in
Kuwait ; the Vali said he did not want them, but Shaikh Mubarak’s own people
over whom the Shaikh would have a hold, to which the Shaikh replied that he
was sorry he could not help for the reasons already given.
No. C.-24, dated Kuwait, the nth May 1910.
From— Captain W. H. I. Shakespear, I.A., 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. , Kuwait,
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.
1 have the honour to invite a reference to the telegrams passed between
His Majesty’s Consul at Basrah and His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constantinople
relative to a rumoured proposal that Kuwait men are to be sent to Hasa for
service as gendarmerie in that province under the Turkish authorities.
2. I mentioned the rumour to Shaikh Mubarak during recent conversation
and he informed me that a paragraph to the above effect had appeared in an
Arabic newspaper in Basrah, having apparently been purposely inserted by the
Vali, but that the facts were as follows ;—The Vali had asked him to supply 20
or 30 men for gendarmerie in Hasa, for whom the Vali would provide a Turkish
commander, pay, food, clothing, etc. ; the Shaikh had replied that he could not
call on any of his people for such service as they were all engaged in their own
vocations, boat-building, fishing, pearl-diving, trading, etc., that if Arabs were
required, no doubt Nejada from Central Arabia could be found in Kuwait, of
the class of men who took service with well-to-do people; that the Vali had said
he particularly wanted Kuwaitis over whom the Shaikh would have a hold, and
to this he had replied regretting that he was unable to assist the Vali.
3, There is, however, a rumour in the town, which I think probably has its
source in the newspaper paragraph mentioned above, that not only was a Kuwait
detachment to be sent to Hasa but that a Turkish zabit and some men were to
be posted to Kuwait. I have had no opportunity of asking the Shaikh regarding
the latter, and on the face of it it seems most improbable.