File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [‎227r] (117/154)

No. 203, datod Bushire, the 2nd July 190t.
From—-M ajou P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating 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—L. W. Dane, Esq., Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department,
Simla.
Certain cases have recently occurred in which the Nacodas of Koweit
dhows appear to have been needlessly oppressed by Belgian Customs officials,
and the Besidency Agent at Lingah asks to be informed definitely as to what
amount of protection he is entitled to afford them.
2. In one case the late Director-General of Bushire Customs, Monsieur
Damhrain, while cruising in the “ Muzafferi ” last April, overhauled a Koweit
dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. at sea, betweeu Hindarahi and Kais Island in the hopes of finding arms
in her. Being unable to search her at sea he towed her in to Lingah where he
had her cargo taken out and detained her several days. Finding her cargo
innocent (it consisted of wooden rafters from Kishm) he allowed it to he put
hack, but (as if to show that his action was justified) he found the Nacoda
guilty of neglecting some technical detail of Customs Begulations and fined him
25 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
The Nacoda went straight back to Koweit and complained to Sheikh
Mubarek that in the first place he had been seized on the high seas out of sight
of land, and that secondly, though his cargo was innocent and he had not inten
tionally committed any breach of rules, he had been delayed for several days
and eventually fined 25 tomans 10,000 Persian dinars, or a gold coin of that value. .
The Director-General was approached informally by my predecessor, and
the process was repeated by me but without any satisfactory result.
3. A second complaint has now been received from the Kesidency Agent
at Lingah, giving details of another case in which he alleges that a Koweit
dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. , with a certificate from Sheikh Mubarek to say that the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. and cargo
were Koweit owmed, has been mulcted of 20 bags of wheat and has been
detained several days. This case is still under correspondence.
4. It is not however with regard to individual cases or the details of them
that I have thought it necessary to trouble Government. My object is to
invite the consideration of the Government of India to the general question of
the extent to which protection or good offices can now be afforded to subjects
of the Sheikh of Koweit when in difficulties of the kind above explained.
It is evident to me that if we wish to maintain our influence with Sheikh
Mubarek, much less to stengthen it, we must accept some responsibility to see
ordinary justice meted out to his subjects in places where we have Agents, as
far as lies in our power. I am also inclined to deduce from one or tw r o local
incidents that there is some tendency on the part of local officials, possibly
prompted from outside, to make a special set against Koweit subjects at the
present time.
With an Agent at Koweit and in view of Sheikh Mubarek’s energetic
entreaties, we shall henceforward be in a stronger position to use our influence
in the direction desired; and while on this subject, I venture to inquire whether
we might not now press the Sheikh to adopt a distinctive device for his flag,
which would enable the vessels of his subjects to be identified.
At present the fact that Koweit dhows fly the Turkish flag unaltered in
any way makes it easy for Customs officials to ignore their Koweit origin, and
encourages Turkish Consular representatives who wish to obtrude their ex
pensive protection.
Translated extract from a letter dated 31st March 1904, from Sheihh Mubarek to the
Resident.
After giving details of the seizure and detention of a Koweit dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. * ®
« And we will not endure this treatment and your sense of honour will
not permit that those who are under your protection shall be treated in such
a way.
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