File 1855/1904 Pt 10 'Koweit:- Relations with Turkey. Sheikh's properties at Fao and Fadaghia' [‎117r] (233/398)

[This Document is the Property of His gritannic Majesty’s Government. ]
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch NoAlSO of the
3rd instant, respecting the demand made by the Yah of Bussorali on the Sheikh
Mubarek of Koweit that, in registering his purchase of the new date gardens near Fao,
he should describe himself as an Ottoman subject.
I note that you instruct me to take a suitable opportunity to make it clear to the
lurkish Government that the attitude of His Majesty’s Government regarding the
status of Koweit has not been modified since the occurrence of the recent consti
tutional changes in the Ottoman Empire, but in this respect I beg to call your attention
to my despatch No. 138 of the 28th February last. v
There exists, of course, as was pointed out by Lord Lansdowne in his memorandum
of the 21 st March, 1902, considerable doubt as the what is the precise status-quo in
Koweit, and at that time, when both parties expressed their maintenance of\it, it
appeared as if both placed their own interpretation on the phrase. It would be possible
to inform the Turkish Government that His Majesty’s Government have not modified
their attitude as to the status of Koweit, and the Turkish Government might answer
that neitheiGiad they, but the matter would not be advanced thereby. On the other
hand, there is the possibility that they might asseverate that His Majesty’s Government :
had modified their attitude in that they had, in 1907, obtained a perpetual lease of the !
Bunder Shweikh land, &c., knowledge of which, as shown in my despatch above
mentioned, appears to have leaked out and arrived at the cognisance of the Ottoman
Government. They are in a position to state that this is subsequent to any declarations
concerning the status quo, and they might, quite conceivably, be disposed to view the
However this may be, the Turkish Government is too much occupied at present
with the problems or the reorganisation of the administration; and it would seem
advisable to leave the question of the status of Koweit alone till such time as they shall
find themselves in a position to enter upon a discussion of the principle involved, when
it is probable that their views will depend largely upon the success with which their
efforts at the regeneration of the Government of the country will have met.
In the meantime I have the honour to transmit to you a copy of a despatch which
I have received from His Majesty’s consul-general at Bussorah, in which, in continuation
of his despatch forwarded in my Nd?H70 of the 10 th March last, he reports the successful
settlement by Sheikh Mubarek of the question of his irrigation scheme at Fao, and I
desire particularly to call your attention to Mr. Crow’s observation that, according to
his experience, the sheikh can manage his own business far better than we can, and that
these difficulties settle themselves if left alone.
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
[June 7.]
CONFIDENTIAL.
Section 3.
[21185]
Sir G. Lowther to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received June 7.)
Constantinople, May 28, 1909.
No. 1
fNo. 396.)
Sir,
yearly payment of 4,000/. to the sheikh, not in its proper light as rent, but as a
subsidy.
I have, &c.
GERARD LOWTHER.
“ .... . : J o jjwiiuLvaa agcui/ at xvoweit on me
same subject, m which Mubarek gives his own explanation of the withdrawal of all
•pposition to his irrigation schemes.
[2298 < 7 —3]