File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [‎215r] (93/154)

coall k
icewj-
Dotkiul
A
d W
wlio sent the telegram, but admitted that he bad beard nothing on the subject
direct from tbe Bin Saood family or from Abd-ur-Rahman. He thought this
was because the telegram had been inspired by Sheikh Jasim bin Thani, of
whom he spoke in no very favourable terms.
Sheikh Mubarak next mentioned that Nasir bin Mubarak of the El
( 3 ) Visit to Koweit of Nasir bin Mubarak the Khali tab family had just been paying
outlaw relative of the Sheikh of Bahrein, on e of his periodical visits and had
only left a couple of days before. He continued that Nasir had told him of
his meeting with Captain Prideaux, and had gone on to ask him (Sheikh
Mubarak) to put in a good word for him to the Resident with a view to a
reconciliation being effected between himself and Sheikh Esa.
Sheikh Mubarak agreed with the Resident in thinking that Sheikh Esa
would resent any overtures on behalf of Nasir Mubarak, and that it would be
difficult to alter the latter’s circumstances during Sheik Esa’s lifetime.
The Resident then introduced the topic
(4) A distinctive flag for Koweit 0 f the flag and ships* articles to be
carried by Koweit vessels.
It may be mentioned here that the Resident had brought with him a
specimen flag of the pattern previously selected by Sheikh Mubarak with the
addition of the word “ Koweit ” in Roman letters as w r ell as Arabic.
Tbe “ articles ” were read over to the Sheikh and it was explained that it
was proposed that the English translation should be verified by the signature
of 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 this the Sheikh considered would be an advantage.
Sheikh Mubarak approved of the “ articles ” with the exception of the item
“ Name of Nakhoda.” To this he objected, as the Nakhodas were always
changing.
The Sheikh then inspected the flag, and after doing so said that he would
lay before the Resident what appeared to him the objections to the use of the
flag as now shown him, and that then, if the Resident did not consider the
objections of any weight, he would be prepared to order his subjects to adopt
the new pattern.
The Sheikh then explained Ms objections at some length. He recited his
grievances against the Turks and their oppression in the matter of his Eao
date gardens and their ingratitude for all he had done in their behalf. He
clearly showed that he considered that all the trouble he experienced at their
hands* was due to his friendly attitude towards the British Governme nt.
He said in conclusion that he would accept the flag as it stood if we would
give him a written guarantee to protect him against an^ consequences that
might arise to him from its use.
It proved, on further enquiry
characters to which he objected. The reason for this addition was thoroughly
explained to him, but the explanation did not remove his objections and he
was therefore told that the European lettering was only a useful addition and
not an essential, and he then expressed himself as quite ready to adopt the
fig, without the English letters, and combined with the “ Articles,” for use by
his subjects.
Sheikh Mubarak next informed the Resident that Bin Rashid had sent a
* . r\ messenger to Meshhed Ali, who had laid
(5) The late Yusuf bm r a m o oura. hands on all the money belonging to
^Yusuf bin Brahim in that place.
Sheikh Mubarak then went dP to explain that he too had claims against
the house of Bin Brahim ; that account books, in Arab merchants’ dealings,
were the only evidence, and that Ue deposits belonging to himself in the hands
was the addition of the English
it
that
*
loot
th-1 &
!^t ^ Ik
&