File 1855/1904 Pt 10 'Koweit:- Relations with Turkey. Sheikh's properties at Fao and Fadaghia' [‎157v] (314/398)

4
to ridicule, and that the Government of India cannot permit Koweit to defy the
world in general ; that it will shortly formulate proposals for a proper system of
quarantine to be managed by its own officers and that, in the meanwhile, fast
mails will no longer call at Koweit.
6. The Political Agent’s own mail bag with his household and British
subjects’ letters could be sent to Fao and inward letters received from there and
it would be as well, if I received instructions to delay the issue of all other
Koweit letters until the arrival of the following slow mail.
7. It is with extreme reluctance and regret that I formulate these proposals,
for I have tried without intermission to induce Koweit, both its Sheikh and
people, to adopt the only reasonable attitude in this matter and enforce, of them
selves, a system of quarantine, guided by proper medical advice. Some pro
gress is made and then we find matters worse than before.
8. Since the above paragraphs were drafted, Sheikh Mubarak has returned
from Failiya and in accordance with custom I went on the 2 and instant and
paid the usual visit of welcome on his return. The talk drifted on to quarantine
matters, and I pointed out to the Sheikh how his orders were being disobeyed.
The Sheikh, with a frankness to which, from him, I am little accustomed, said
that his orders would not be disobeyed, but pointed out that while we were
constantly pressing our own demands upon him, we allowed his interests in Fao
to be completely neglected.
9. No clearer intimation could possibly be given that he was deliberately
thwarting our plans to compel us to fall in with his views regarding his Fao
properties. He said that he held a paper from us to say that they were also
under our protection, but I have no definite knowledge of the paper to which he
alludes.
10. The Sheikh appears to wish for the appointment of a commission headed
by His Excellency the Wali on which Basrah landowners should be strongly
represented (he specially mentions the Nakib of Basrah) and he also desires the
attendance of a representative on the part of the British Government. He says
that he objects to the deputation of underlings whose one object is to fill their
own purses. There is, I think, no doubt that such a commission, if the Turkish
authorities would consent to it, would do a great deal towards bringing these
obscure squabbles into the light of day and would form a valuable precedent for
the future.
n. This intention of the Sheikh to thwart our plans and interests in Koweit
until we show more activity in Fao was expressed with the utmost good nature,
but there is no doubt that it is seriously meant and indications of his putting his
intention into execution are not wanting. Quarantine is only one of the ways in
’which he seeks to express his dissatisfaction. The lease of the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. premises
and the additional plot, property of the late Mubarak bin Zaid, are hanging fire
and the results of some rather acrimonious discussions are not yet ripe for report
Copy of Quarantine report, dated the 16 th April igo 8 ,
S.S. “ Kola” arrived here to-day at about 6 p.M. She had 41 passengers
on board for Koweit, 26 from Bombay, and the rest from other Gulf ports. One
was a second class passenger of the name of Mr. Hormuzion, and the rest were
deck passengers.
The yellow quarantine flag was seen flying all the time on the steamship.
Sheikh Mubarak was seen as usual regarding arrangements to be made for
the observation of quarantine. This time he gave me verbal instructions to
examine all passengers on board the steamship, and to let go those who were
found healthy, and to detain in quarantine such as were found to be sick. People
from the shore, who boarded the ship, were to be detained in quarantine up to the
proper time, according to instructions.