File 3136/1914 Pt 2 ‘German War. Situation in Turkish Arabia & Persian Gulf’ [‎43r] (92/504)

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At the same time, in order to safeguard himself against (the action of) the
Turkish Government, Saiyid Talib adopted a device in respect of Shaikh
Mubarak-as-Subah of Kuwait and Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Khazal Khan (of Muhammerah)
„ivj na it out to the Government that being his neighbours these two Shaikhs
were readv to help him, if Government so desires, by men and money m re
taking Al Hasa and that this had been definitely agreed upon between them.
It was on this account that, as an act of friendship, Saiyid Talib endeavoured
to secure for these two Shaikhs the distinction of the hirst Class Order of
Mejidi and virtually succeeded therein.
The appointment of Sulaiman ? Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. as Wall and Commander
of troons at Basrah was due to the problem of Najd and the insurrection of
Bin Saud as well as to the actions of Saiyid Talib Bey. This appointment was
made at a time when the Central Government had many important problems
to deal with, and the Wall was entrusted with secret instructions and was to
have a free hand in all matters. As a matter of precaution, he was escorted by
a sufficient force. Before the Wall’s arrival at Basrah, Saiyid Tahb ordered
the local house-proprietors not to let a single house on rent to the Wall within
the town of Basrah. The object of this was that, in the event of the least
opposition being shown by the Wali, he may be easily killed outside the town
as was the ease of the murder of the former Commander, Farid Bey. Thus, be
made the Wali to dwell in the house of Kbazal Khan (Chief of Muhammerah)
which is situated on the bank of the large Basrah river some H tours distance
from Basrah There a body of the Shaikh’s men was stationed as a guard for
he nrote tion of his life. Later, he cunningly persuaded the Wall to believe
that the problem of Bin Saud had arisen as a surprise to the Government and
that the P masterv in the Gulf was formerly Islam’s, but when the Government
gave up her position and the British Government was granted the privilege
gave up nm P o{ the peoples C ame to be neglected and they became
disloval to the Government, hut that it was not necessary that the Government
should send her forces to fight Bin Saud, but he (Saiyid lalib) would, with the
Government’s approval, make the best arrangement and thereby enlist Bin
gaud’s loyalty and that if the latter proved refractory, then the former would
himself rale i force with the help of the other chiefs and fight for the Govern-
W When the Wali saw this attitude of Saiyid Talih; opposed as it was to
former’s opinion about the latter, he informed the Porte of this and, as result,
the Government entrusted Saiyid Talib with this task on getting th.s intima-
«on and then the position of Bin Sand with respect to the Government was
discussed and settled by means of two agreements of which one was ordwaiy
(public) and the other secret. Ton may have been acquainted with the
subiect matter of that (open agreement). ,
In accordance with the secret agreement, the Government .^cognise the
independence of Bin Saud as Wali and Commandant in Ne]d with the oondi.
independence independent Sheikhs, extending up to
Yemen and Haz— a" to be attached to (or under) Bin Sand under the
Ottoman flag with secret aid from Government.
When Saivid Talib succeeded in dealing with the prob em of Bin Sand in
this wav he acquired great power and influence m the whole of Al ir i'l- r
bardment (or tight) o£ ( " i ear g^ivto Tahb promised to theVali that
gss&xrte sr —.“is rsf-a ■ *»
concerning Saiyid Talib and the German Government, and m nva ry ^
ff l:. ^ s
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