File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [‎221v] (106/154)

The matter was referred to Tehran, where Sir Arthur Hardinge arranged that
the case should be removed to the Court of the Foreign Office Ageat or
Karguzar, so as to allow of a representative of the British Consulate-General
attending at the trial. In agreeing to this course, however, the Persian Gov
ernment expressly intimated that their consent was based on the British nation
ality of the Arab’s employment, and abstained from committing themselves
to an acceptance of either the British or Turkish view as to the international
status of Koweit. Mention of this incident has been added, as the issue
involved is the same, though the case is of a somewhat different character to
those preceding, and we do not propose any further action in regard to it.
3. The present is not the first occasion on which the question of the
status of Koweit subjects has come under review. The point was raised
in 1900 in connection with the importation of certain arms into Persia by a
merchant said to be a subject of the Sheikh. Our 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. was then informed by Lord Lansdowne that Koweit was not
under formal British protection, though we had promised the Sheikh our good
offices; that natives of Koweit could not be claimed as British protected
persons, nor would they be justiciable by British Consular Tribunals in Persia.
It was added that interference to protect any Koweit subject was undesirable,
and that action on the part of the Resident was unnecessary until he was
appealed to, but that endeavours should be made to ascertain the facts as to
the man’s nationality and the Sheikh’s wishes as to resisting Turkish claims to
jurisdiction over him.
4. In the recent cases we are left in no doubt as to the nationality of the
affected parties or as to the wishes of Sheikh Mubarak, who has requested our
assistance in formal and strongly worded communications addressed to our
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 Koweit. We have not overlooked the fact that His
Majesty’s Government have intimated that they are not prepared to declare a
foBmal protectorate over the Sheikh’s territories, and have even admitted that
Koweit is within the Turkish Empire. The latter pronouncement, however,
was accompanied by the important qualification that the authority of the
Sublime Porte is of an entirely unsubstantial character, and that in fact the
Chief enjoys a large measure of practical independence. By his engagement
of the 23rd January 1899, the Sheikh virtually placed the conduct of his
external relations in our hands,^ and he now naturally looks to the British
Government to assist his subjects when in trouble with officials of the Persian
Government. In 1902 he was formally assured of British protection against an
attack on Koweit, and he has repeatedly been informed that His Majesty’s Gov
ernment will lend him their good offices, so long as he adheres to their advice.
Ihe visit of His Excellency Lord Curzon, in December 1903, was regarded
as a further declaration of our intention to protect and befriend him; while the
recent appointment of a British Agent to reside at Koweit or, as we now un-
derst and from your recent telegrams, to pay periodical visits to Koweit, has
led the Sheikh and his subjects to expect a larger measure of support than thev
have hitherto received. We feel strongly that it is incumbent upon us to assist
him to the utmost of our powers, and that failure to do so must lead not only to
a complete loss of the influence which we have acquired over the Sheikh Who
plainly warns us that he will he obliged to seek other relief if we are unable
P ut a st0 P t0 Persian tyranny over his sea-faring subjects, but also to a
coasTo/the Gulf f °Th PreStlg ? both th e Arabian and Persian
coasts ot the Gulf. The prospect of the latter result is one which, in view of
equan V imity deS1SaS ° f P ° WerS in theSe resionS > we oould not re S ard witb
c i,r' r '' ^ !! e repudiation of Turkish pretensions to treat as subiects of the
Sublime Porte natives of Koweit territory is no new thing. ?n 1902 in connec-
kTlWed a 6 laim P rt!,” ? is ^esty’s Consul at Basrah Sy
tunaMf 1 pr0feiTOd by tbo . Wali of Basrah. But for.
issue with the Turkish 1 -r P resent cases > it is unnecessary to raise this
into direct conflict with t) °r to take any action which need bring us
Maiesty’s Government^ the ■ P . orteat a _ moment when, we understand, His
1 y vemment are anxious to avoid complications in that quarter. All