File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [‎195r] (51/154)

[Confidential.]
No. 630, dated Bushire, the 18th (received 27th) March 1906.
From— -Major P. Z. Cox, 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—The Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
I have the honour to refer to the correspondence ending with Foreign
Department letter No. 4576-E.B., dated 11th December 1905, on the subject
of a distinctive flag accompanied by printed Certificates of Nationality, to be
used by vessels belonging to Sheikh Mubarak or bis subjects.
2. I have just returned from a visit to Koweit. I had taken over with
Naval Commander-in-Chief to Foreigrn Depart- Die a specimen flag and printed certificates
ment, No. 1452, dated 23rd August 1905 , para- made up with additions recommended by
grapil 2 * Vice-Admiral Sir George Atkinson-Willes,
and discussed •them with the Sheikh at an interview which he had with 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. and myself on the 7th instant.
He readily confirmed acceptance of the certificate, now in printed form,
with the exception of item “5. —Name of Master”. He explained that this
entry would be useless and perhaps misleading as Nakhodas so constantly
change.
There is truth in this, and as the other details of the certificate will amply
identify any vessel, I recommend that it be eliminated as he suggests.
3. As to the flag, I regret to say that Sheikh Mubarak would not accept it
as it stood, i.e., with the word “ Koweit ” in the Roman as well as the Arabic
character.
When the flag was first displayed to him, he forthwith asked permission to
explain what seemed to him the objections to his adopting it, and added that if,
after hearing them, I were to decide that they were not weighty, he would be
prepared to introduce the flag. What he went on to say however amounted
to a good deal more than this.
He proceeded to recapitulate all his old grievances against the Turks,
much as he had at my interview with
Resident to the Government of India, No. 387, on ^he Subject OU 12th July last,
dated 13 th August 1905 , paragraph 3 . _ , • . . *’ •-i i u j t
In conclusion he said he would adopt the
flag as it stood if we would give him a written guarantee to protect him from
any unpleasant consequences from the Turks which might result to him from
the use of it.
On my probing his misgivings it became evident that it was the inscrip
tion in the Roman character in which he saw so much difficulty. The nature
of this addition and the reasons for it were fully explained to him, and he was
informed that it was the Admiral, as a sailor, who had specially recommended
it in order that it might enable the identity of the Koweit flag to be readily
understood by Belgian Customs officials or other Europeans who could not
read the oriental character.
My explanations, however, did not dispel his objections, and therefore,
subject to the final views of Government, the only thing to do seemed to be to
make the best of the flag without the English inscription, which Sheikh
Mubarak adhered to his previously expressed readiness to adopt.
4. As the word “ Koweit ** has now been eliminated, I have had the letters
made a little larger and submit a specimen flag for i avo ^ r
inspection, together with the printed certificate as finally accepted by Sheikh
Mubarak.
In the first instance it will, I think, be advisable to supply the Sheikh
gratis with—
one dozen Bunting Flags 4J' X 2J', and
five hundred certificates in two books of 250 each ;
914 F. D.