File 1855/1904 Pt 10 'Koweit:- Relations with Turkey. Sheikh's properties at Fao and Fadaghia' [‎97r] (193/398)

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CONFIDENTIAL.
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No. 724, dated Bushire, the 20th March 1910.
From— Major A. P. Trevor, I.A., First Assistant Resident in charge of Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. ,
To—S. H. Butler, Esq., C.S.I., C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India in the
Foreign Department, Calcutta.
In continuation of the correspondence ending with my letter No. 288, dated I
Letter No. G.-H, dated 6th (received 30th January 1910. I have the honour V / /
30th January 1910, I have the honour
to forward, for the information of the
Government of India, copies of the
marginally noted letters on the subject
of Shaikh Mubarak’s Fao properties,
and of Shaikh Mubarak’s recent meet-
(1) Letter No. C.-ll, dated 6th (received
15th) March 1910, from 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. ,
Kuwait, to the 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.
(2) Letter No. 14, dated 9th (received 15th)
March 1910, from His Majesty’s Consul, Basrah,
to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Constanti
nople.
ing with the Wali of Basrah in connection therewith.
2 . The account of his trip given by Shaikh Mubarak to Captain Shakespear
is very different from that given in Mr. Crow’s report. I have furnished Captain
Shakespear with - a copy of Mr. Crow’s report and asked him to make further
enquiries about the matter. It is, however, sufficiently evident that the Shaikh’s
emphatic statement that “ not one word had been broached on the subject of his
properties ” is not in accordance with fact. No doubt, however, the Shaikh does
not for a moment think that we believe such assurances.
3. It is evident from Mr. Crow’s report that the new Wali of Basrah is trying
to ingratiate himself with Shaikhs Khazal and Mubarak. It does not seem desir
able from our point of view that the two chiefs should become too friendly with
His Excellency, and I have asked His Majesty’s Consul, Basrah to be so good as to
let me know if anything further transpires. It is very possible that Shaikh Khazal
finding himself in opposition to the Bakhtiari (and most powerful) element in the
Persian Government, may desire to make friends with the Turks, but it hardly
seems likely that Shaikh Mubarak being on such friendly terms with Bin Saud could
seriously contemplate any arrangement with the Turks. In fact, it seems possible
that Shaikh Mubarak is merely trying to throw dust in the eyes of the Wali.
4. It appears that nothing was actually settled regarding the registration of
the Fadaghia property, and in fact that no immediate settlement is likely. Any
further information received will at once be reported to Government.
No. C.-ll, dated Kuwait, the 6th March 1910.
From— Captain W. H. I. Shakespear, I.A., 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. , Kuwait,
To—The First Assistant in charge of Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. , Bushire.
I have the honour to report the following further particulars with reference
to the correspondence ending with my letter, No. C.-7, dated the 18th January 1910,
and my diary entries for February regarding Shaikh Mubarak’s recent visit toFao
and Basrah.
2 . In conversation the Shaikh mentioned his visit to Fao, said that be had met
the Wali there, and had then gone on to Basrah in his yacht, stayed a few days at
Shaikh Khazal’s palace in Basrah and returned. On my enquiry whether anything
had passed during the meeting as to the registration of his properties, he informed
me with unusual emphasis that not a word had been broached on the subject, which
was still in the position already reported in my letter referred to above. He added
that the Wali had come down the river on tour and as he visited his estates at Fao
he felt bound to be present.
3. The above gives the Shaikh’s version, but I heard on excellent authority
what I believe to be more in consonance with the real facts, from an intimate
friend of the Shaikh. The Wali, intending to visit Fao, summoned Shaikh Mubarak,
and the latter left Kuwait in haste in the middle of his preparations for bis cam
paign against the Ajman tribe. Calls were exchanged between the Shaikh and the
Wali on board their respective vessels, and the Shaikh was also entertained at a