File 3846/1910 'Mesopotamia: Baghdad affairs. Miscellaneous.' [‎165r] (338/536)

to which the Sheikh of Koweit has "been subjected by Suleiman Nazi! Bey, the late
Vali of Bussorah, with regard to the property which he purchased, in the course of
last year, from Ahmed Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. -el-Zoheir at a price of £ T. dS,000 which was duly paid
down. When, however, Sheikh Mubarek took steps to register the transfer at the
ffurkish Land Office he was informed that he must register himself as a Turkish
Subject: such a demand in reference to a transfer of land had never before been made.
Your Excellency should inform the Minister for Foreign Affairs that His Majesty’s
Government regard the conduct of the late Vali in this matter as an attempt to modify
the status quo with regard to Koweit, which is the basis of the understanding between
His Majesty’s Government and the Ottoman Government in this important question.
It appears, moreover, from reliable and circumstantial reports, that the late Vali
tried by tortuous methods to instigate the vendor of the Fedaghia property to impugn
Sheikh Mubarek’s title. The vendor remonstrated with the Vali, pointing out the
absurdity of repudiating the sale in the face of the title-deeds held by the Sheikh,
which, besides the signature of the vendor, bore those of all the Bussorah notables
as well as that of the British consul.
His Majesty’s Government rely upon the Ottoman Government to bring about a
satisfactory settlement of the registration of this property ; they have no wish to raise
difficulties with regard to the past conduct of an official who has since been recalled ;
but I must add that the incident is vexatious, and serves to deepen the impression
entertained by His Majesty’s Government of ill-will on the part of the Turkish officials.
In his recent dealings with the Sheikh of Mohammerah the conduct of the late
Vali of Bussorah has been in the highest degree violent, vindictive, and unjust.
It is known to His Majesty’s Government from reports received from His
Majesty’s Consul at Bussorah that there were no disturbances of importance on the
Shat-el-Arab during last winter, that the Sheikh recently exercised his good
offices in the endeavour to promote a reconciliation between the Vali and an
important Arab chief of Turkish nationality, and that the Sheikh has, in fact,
carried his conciliatory attitude towards Nazif Bey so far as to acquiesce without
complaint in the destruction of houses belonging to him at Bussorah. It is further
known through His Majesty’s Consul at Mohammerah that Sheikh Khazal has
endeavoured to promote friendly relations between Nazif Bey and the Vali of
Pusht-i-Kuh.
Such was the situation at the end of March last when the Sheikh and the Vali
appeared still to be on the best of terms. Shortly afterwards, however, the Vali
brought against the Sheikh certain accusations into the nature of which it is
unnecessary to enter in detail, since your Excellency is already familiar with it from
the correspondence which has passed on the subject. No serious proof of the truth of
these accusations was ever offered, nor was any opportunity ever given to the Sheikh
to disprove -the charges brought, against him, which he was perfectly able and
willing to do. On the contrary, the Vali totally ignored a friendly and conciliatory
letter addressed to him by the Sheikh, expressing the intention of proceeding to
Bussorah to discuss the matters in dispute, and, further, on the Sheikh’s arrival
there on the 18th April, most unjustifiably and discourteously refused to receive
him at all.
The Sheikh had no alternative but to return to Mohammerah. On the 24th April
the £ all issued circular instructions to the local officials under his jurisdiction
summarily to remove all headmen dependent on the Sheikh, and on the 25th April,
during the latter’s absence at Ahwaz, the Turkish gun-boat “ Marmaris,” acting on
the orders of Nazif Bey, shelled the village of Zain belonging to the Sheikh, which
was afterwards looted and destroyed by Turkish soldiers. In the course of this
attack the house of the Sheikh s mother was burnt, and one of his wives died from
shock caused by the bombardment.
On the 26th April the Vali, in two official letters addressed to the Persian Consul
at Bussorah, went so far as to threaten action against Mohammerah itself in the event
of failure to comply with his demands.
In spite of the injury and provocation which he had received, Sheikh Khazal
continued to be guided by the advice of His Majesty’s Government by maintaining
a conciliatory attitude, by restraining his agents and supporters from any aggressive
action, and by adopting their suggestions with respect to the wording & of his
communications with the Vali. The latter, on the contrary, displayed strong-
resentment at the attempts made by His Majesty’s Consul at Bussorah, under
instructions from His Majesty s Government, to promote an understanding between
him and the Sheikh.