File 1855/1904 Pt 10 'Koweit:- Relations with Turkey. Sheikh's properties at Fao and Fadaghia' [‎106r] (211/398)

No. 2080, dated Bushire, the 22nd (received 30th) August 1909 (Confidential)^!.
From— MAJOR P. Z. Cox, C.S.I., C.I.E., 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. ,
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To—S. H. Butler, Esq., C.S.L, C.I.E., Secretary to the Government of India in
the Foreign Department.
In amplification of my telegram No. 833, dated the 17th August I have the
honour to state that I met Sheikh Mubarak at Mohammerah on my return journey
from Ahwaz on 17th July. He then told me that the Fort authorities at Fao
were worrying him again about the boundary of his properties and he thought he
should have to trouble us again, but that as regards the registration question he
had managed to put through the purchase of the Fadaghia property without
registering and he would not dream of doing so. He continued that he was
about to meet the new Wali in company with Sheikh Khazal and the Nakib of
Basrah and he would know better then what the outlook was.
I may mention that Sheikh Khazal had confided in me at Mohammerah a
few days before that if ultimately pressed seriously in the matter of registration,
Sheikh Mubarak intended to qualify by registering the name of a young son
who is blind or non compos, and who “ could not be of use to anybody ”1 Sheikh
Mubarak, whom I sounded on the point, repudiated any idea of the kind, but I
have no doubt that what Sheikh Khazal told me was well founded.
Sheikh Mubarak has now returned home and I attach a report received by
Koweit Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. No. 444 , dated the 7 th August 1909 . th ®. ^ fr0m th , e Pofifical Agent, from
which it appears that it is unnecessary at
present for any representation to be made to the Porte.
No. 444, dated Koweit, the 7th August 1909.
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. , Koweit,
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 The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Bushire. ,
l have the honour to reply to your letter No. 1601, dated the 7th July 1909,
and to express my regret that Sheikh Mubarak’s long absence from Koweit has
made an earlier reply impossible.
2. I visited the Sheikh the day after his return and in the course of a long
conversation he informed me that his affairs on the Shatt-el-Arab for the time
being were progressing as smoothly as could be expected, and that the new Wali,
who is an Arab, was not inclined, at least for the present, to be actively hostile.
3. He had met the new Wali at an entertainment given by the Nakib of
Basrah at Sabailiyah but that nothing of an intimate or private nature had either
passed or been possible between them regarding his properties.
4. The Sheikh added that the question of land registration had not been
pressed and that he had not registered in the case of the Fadhagyia property nor
did he ever contemplate doing so. Though I could obtain nothing very definite
from the Sheikh, I gathered that for the present his relations with the Turkish
officials were comparatively friendly, and he was inclined to leave matters as they
are for fear that any representations to the Porte might result in the re-opening
of undesirable questions.
5. I enquired whether he had noticed if the overthrow of the old regime in
Constantinople had yet produced any concomitant effect in the Basrah Vilayet
and what he anticipated the reflective result would be on his own affairs. The
Sheikh replied that so far no change was apparent in Basrah and so far as he was
concerned personally he expected none; that for the time being the Turks were
not molesting him, but he had no doubt that, when it suited their purpose, they
would re-commence their policy of interference in his affairs, and that they would
never forgive him for having allied himself to British interests.
6. In the circumstances it would appear that no representations to the Porte
are immediately called for.
7^3 | 3 /^)
G, C. B. P., Simla.—No. C-07J7 F. D.—10-9- 09.—39.—E. A. D’S.