'File 36/3 Lease of Bander Shweikh' [‎198v] (396/556)

The reef shown on the tracing opposite the Sheikh’s coal store is not really
a reef but simply coral laid bare by the action of the tide and slopes down to the
water just the same as the sandy beach.
I have, etc.,
(Sd.) C. K. MACLEAN,
The Senior Naval Officer,
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Division.
Lieutenant and Commander.
[Demi-Official.]
Dated 14th August 1907.
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. , Koweit,
To—The First Assistant in charge current duties, Bushire.
Turn that Bunder Shweikh negotiations are taking is better than I expect
ed. Sheikh Mubarak has taken the pearl out of the oyster for himself by
reserving the coal house recently erected with surrounding compound I5a~yards
square coal house occupying the centre of the north-west nr .se aside Apart
from that reservation he grants us rectangular plot of ground 3,7^0 yards by
300 yards at a perpetual rent of Rs. 60,000 per annum paid in advance. The
north-west boundary 3,750 yards long in a direct line and roughly parallel to
foreshore but must conta in coal house or compound. Subiect to these two
conditions,^sltion is at our optiom Kent gives right wdtho.it further demand
Toall foreshore to depth of 3 fathoms at lowest springtide between north-east
and south-west boundaries produced to north-west except immediately in
front of Mubarak s reservation and full liberty to erect buildings of any kind, to
sublet to British, British Indian and Koweit subjects, to put down buoys and
carry out all works necessary to ease passage of steamers from open sea to
harbour Shweikh. As area of land now granted is more than 12 times that
originally asked for, rent is proportionally one-third of Cox limit, and I strongly
recommend I should be empowered to accept at once without further questiom
Koweit subjects right of pre-emption or prior lease is stronger than ours to
the land surrounding present concession to distance of i.ooo yards from any
point of our boundary but otherwise Government has precedence over all comers
with regard to such land.
f CM Gov fy nme " t . ba f s absolute right of pre-emption or prior lease to entire island
of Shweikh and its foreshore (also called on chart, Karaim).
Government had absolute right of pre emption or prior lease to Ras Kathama
and foreshore to limit of two nautical miles in any direction but Sheikh reserves
to himself la id for house within boundaries of total linear length of 600 (six
hundred) yards somewhere at his option near Ras Kathama but will grant a
right of way to sea to Government 15 feet broad, if such is found necessary.
Kathama land can only be leased. J
Concession also contains clause dictated by Sheikh asserting spirited dec-
laration of independence and Sheikh Mubarak's determination not to part with
his rights in land to any Foreign Government including Turkey or to their subjects
without consent of British Government asked for' and granted. Agreement
is terminable at option of^ British Government only. Sheikh Mubarak also
binds his heirs but his signature only holds good for two months. If within
that period, Government consents, Agreement is binding. If not, new terms
can be arrranged.
/’..S'.—Plan
may shift to right
enclosed gives rough idea of concession but north-west line
or left and it will perhaps be better to bring it to the left a bit.
S. G. KNOX.