'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎231v] (467/470)

4*44
between Bin Sa‘ud and the ‘Ajman, who were then living with friendly tribes on the borders of the
occupied territory, and instructions were drafted defining the position of the fugitive Shaikhs with
respect to all the tribes under the protection of the Btitish Grovernment. On his return to Basrah
the Chief Political Officer summoned the ‘Ajman leaders, and some of the more courageous came in
to Zubair and the proposed terms were accepted. They expressed little doubt that the rest would
come in on learning of the success of their own venture. Sultan, ibn Hithlain gave a written
undertaking that the tribe would not leave our territory without permission, but they eventually
went off to Ibn Rashid. . ,
In February 1917, Shaikh Jabir died and Salim reigned in his stead. In the middle of 1917
Bin Sated, who had already begun to tax the ‘Awazim, an essentially Kuwait tribe, induced them
to leave Kuwait and settle in his own territory. Shaikh Salim’s reply to this move was to make
advances to the Shammar and ‘ Ajman and by the beginning of October, 1917, the latter had moved
“ en masse” into Kuwait territory. Much correspondence took place between the two rulers, but
Bin Sated refused to restore the ‘Awazim, and, when Colonel Hamilton, political argent, Kuwait,
visited Najd, he claimed that he was within his rights in his action in connection with this tribe.
However, knowing that he was really in the wrong, he expressed himself ready to return the
filched tribe if Shaikh Salim would turn out the ‘Ajman and cut off his relations with the
Shammar, the enemies of himself and the British Government. Eventually an understanding was
arrived at on these lines and the ‘Awazim were returned. Despite this the ‘Ajman remained, in
Kuwait territory, and at the beginning of 1918 the disposal of this tribe had become a burning
question. In February, 191.8, it was decided that the most satisfactory settlement of the matter
would be for the British Government to take the ‘Ajman under their protection at Zubair or
elsewhere on the Shamiyah side, and on March 6th, 1918, the following agreement was signed by
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. (Colonel Hamilton), Shaikh Salim, and Dhaidan ibn Hithlain, the leading
‘Ajman Shaikh).
“ After consulting the wishes of their friend and ally H. E. ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Sated, Imam of
Riyadh and Hakim of Najd, Hasa and its Dependancies,
“ After paying due regard to the intercession on their behalf of H E. Shaikh Salim al Mubarak,
Hakim of the Sultanate of Kuwait and its dependancies, in whose territory and under whose pro
tection the tribe of ‘Ajman are now dwelling, and having regard to the general policy of friendliness
of the British Government towards the rulers, tribes and people of ‘Iraq and the Jazirat-al-Arab,
it has seemed good to the British Government to overlook the breach of the agreement made last
year with Sultan ibn Hithlain and some sections of the ‘Ajman and to enter into relations
with this tribe for the second time : Therefore the British Government is willing to accept the
submission of the ‘Ajman and to take them under its protection for the period of one year, or until
the end of the war, on the conditions undermentioned :—
“ (i) That Dhaidan ibn Hithlain, Sultan ibn Hithlain and all the Shaikhs of the ‘Ajman tribe
now settled in Kuwait territories do subscribe in writing to this underiaking.
“ (ii) That the ‘Ajman tribe will remove its encampment to within territories occupied or
administered by the British Forces and will settle in a locality appointed by the British political
authorities.
“ (iii) That the ‘Ajman will not re-enter Kuwait territory or market in Kuwait (which must
be regarded as absolutely out of bounds for the tribe) without permission of the British Officer in
political charge of them and after notice has been previously given to H. E. Shaikh of Kuwait.
“ (iv) That immediately after the execution of this undertaking by them, the ‘Ajman tribe
will move in the direction of Zubair and await orders as to their destination.
“ (v) If and when these terms have been subscribed to by Shaikhs Dhaidan ibn Hithlain,
Sultan bin Hithlain and other sectional chiefs of the tribe, the British Government will extend to
them the same measure of protection and place them on exactly the same allowances as in the case
of Ibn Suwait and the Dhafir tribe.
“ Note .—It should be understood that these restrictions do not refer to individuals of the ‘A jman
tribe such as fidaiyiah, pearlers, and others of the tribe engaged in similar industries whose liveli
hood is obtained in Kuwait. But the prohibition is absolutely in regard to the principal Shaikhs’
sections and their tribal followings.”
After some delay the tribe took up their residence at Shuwaibdah, north of Zubair, but since
then much raiding lias taken place between them and the Mutair and Bani Hajir, and they have
also raided a number of Bin Sated’s caravans in Kuwait territory. Until the acceptance by the
British Government in July, 1918, of certain friendly overtures made by Shaikh Salim, he did
nothing to prevent this raiding in spite of the agreement on the subject. Bin Sated strongly
resented this and represented that in this and other matters his interests were not being properly
looked after by Government, and in August it was decided that a British post should be established
to guard the Safwan wells, that Shaikh Salim should guard Jaharah and other Kuwait watering
places, while, with his consent, Bin Sated was to be authorised to occupy Hafar on the boundary of
Kuwait territory. In addition, hostages were to be taken from the leading Sheikhs of the ‘Ajman
(and also from certain friendly Shammar who were implicated in the raiding) and further raiding
be punished by stoppage of supplies.
It was, however, subsequently decided not to occupy Safwan nor to take hostages, but the
‘Ajman were warned that if the raiding continued their small subsidies would be finally discontinued,
they would be refused supplies, and thrown open to Bin Sated’s vengeance. At the same time Bin
Sated was informed that he was at liberty, so far as we were concerned, to take action against them
provided the safety of the Basrah-Nasiriyah Railway was not endangered and hostilities with
Kuwait principality were not involved.