'Report and Proceedings of the Standing Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence on the Persian Gulf' [‎17r] (38/94)

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purchased by the Sheikh about two years ago for £ T. 48,000. On previous occasions
when the Sheikh has bought land in Turkey, he has had no difficulty in registering the
transactions in the local land office. In the present case, the Office has refused
registration unless the Sheikh enters himself as an Ottoman subject. This, acting on
the advice of the British agent at Koweit, he has hitherto declined to do.
There is, however, a constant possibility that Turkish aggression on Koweit might
take a more direct form than this. Um Kasr Fort, at the head of Khor Abdullah,
has been occupied by a detachment of Turkish soldiers, but it cannot be said with
confidence that Um Kasr should really be regarded as within the ill-defined limits of
the Sheikh’s territories. There has also been a small post on Warba and Bubian
Islands, which are considered as being undoubtedly Koweit territory. But if the
Turks really wished to encroach on Koweit, they would probable have very little
difficulty in finding a plausible pretext. The embroilments which the Sheikh
occasionally has with neighbouring tribes, such as that with the Muntafik Arabs in
1910, might furnish the Turks with specious grounds for active intervention ; and, with
the levelling tendencies which the present regime has displayed in various parts of the
Empire, it can hardly be doubted that the Turks would welcome a pretext for action if
other conditions were favourable to them. In such an eventuality, we might find
Turkish soldiers at Koweit itself.
2. Zakhnuniyeh.
This is a small sandy island about 10 miles south-east of Ujair # (the southernmost
point to which His Majesty’s Government regard Turkish sovereignty as extending)
and close to the mainland. It has been occupied by Turkish soldiers or gendarmes in
1909 and 1910. On each occasion the Porte has been informed that the island is
claimed by the Sheikh of Bahrein, by whose subjects it has been used for fishing
purposes, and that the presence of the Turkish flag constitutes an infringement of the
status quo. On each occasion, in one manner or another, the island has been
evacuated.
3. El Odeid, Wakra, Zobara,^ and El Bidaa.
These places are all situated on the coast of the Katr Peninsula, and are therefore
regarded by His Majesty’s Government as being outside Turkish jurisdiction. At
El Bidaa, however, the Turks have had a small military post since 187^, and though
His Majesty’s Government have tolerated its existence for many years, they have
never actually acquiesced in it. To the other three places the Turkish authorities, at
one time or other during the past few years, have appointed Mudirs, but the officials
have seldom proceeded to their posts. In 1895, His Majesty’s Government forcibly
dispersed a settlement of Bahrein malcontents, who had settled at Zobara under the
Turkish flag. In 1903 and 1904 there was an attempt to appoint a Mudir to Wakra,
and a British warship was sent to prevent his landing. In 1910 the Vali of Bussorah
appointed a Mudir to El Odeid, but, so far as is known, he has not attempted to proceed
thither.
Except with regard to Koweit and El Odeid, which is in the territory of the
Trucial Chiefs, Turkish aggression threatens places of little intrinsic importance. But
taken cumulatively, and m connection with questions arising m neighbouring parts of
the Empire, their action might have considerable importance, and His Majesty’s
Government might be forced to take local retaliatory measures. It is not possible to
say beforehand what acts of aggression would call for such measures, <xS this would
largely depend on the circumstances of the moment. But it is desiiable now to consider
what form local action in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. by His Majesty s Government had best take,
what measures would be required of the Indian and Imperial naval and military forces,
and what effect such action would bo likely to have on Great Butains position in Egypt
and India and on her prestige in other Mahommedan countries.
Foreign Office,
March 6, 1911.
* Ukeir in map, Ojar in Admiralty charts,
f Zabara in map, Zubara in Admiralty charts.
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