Coll 30/15 'Anthems and Flags of Various States. Bahrein [Bahrain], Koweit [Kuwait], Muscat, Asir, Yemen, Qatar, Trucial, Oman' [‎52v] (104/261)

to me the most politic. The matter was originally mooted in their own interests
when the Belgian was more rampant than he is now. If the Chiefs, unlettered
Philistines that they are, cannot appreciate their own advantage, it is no fault
of ours.
Prom the point of view of our own interest it is certainly somewhat incon
venient that the Treaty provisions should not be rigidly adhered to owing to the
presence of European foreigners in the Gulf, hut w^hat I feel is that our own
position generally in relation to tbese Chiefs and other Arab allies or depen
dants, and the Besident’s position in particular, has been much affected and
rendered difficult by the influx of the foreign element of late years ; by the vag
aries of the Belgians, now fortunately much less frequent; and by the disinclina
tion of His Majesty’s Government to authorise any strong line in Tehran ; so
that neither does the time seem suitable nor can we really afford just now to
place any unnecessary tension upon our relations with them. Por these consi
derations if Government see no great objection, I would ask permission to let
the matter drop or to postpone it until some more opportune moment.
6. As to the precise form of the Article to be used when addressing Govern-
. ment in my letter* No. 359, dated 29th
July 1905, I had the Treaty before me
but was rather lead away by the action taken in the case of Koweit. The
items which I included in my draft form were such as would be in a great
measure permanent. I think however that it would be necessary for a Nakhoda
to take also for each voyage a separate clearance ticket briefly showing the ports
of departure and destination, and time of sailing as suggested in the Assistant
Secretary’s letter.
I must apologise for the undue length wdiich this letter has reached, but it
seemed advisable that after such a lapse of time l should place the facts fully
before Government.
Enclo. to
Pro. No. 54.
Translation of letter No. 317, dated 28th October 1903, from Major T. Z. Cox,
Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , to Sheikh Zaeed bin
Khalifah, Chief of Abu Thabi.
It is more than a month ago since I received from Khan Bahadur Abdul
Latif a purport of what had passed during his visit to you in the month of
Eajab, in connection with the flags.
I have delayed writing to you before because I thought I might be able to
pay you a visit, but now I see that I cannot do so for some weeks more, and
meanwhile it is necessary that I should write to you.
You seem to have conversed with Abdul Latif in very heated terms, which
was neither w'ise, my friend, nor becoming your greybeard and experience. I
can quite understand your feeling sore about the Taona Case. I too am sore
on your account, and it is for that reason that I bear with you longer than I
ordinarily should. But remember that even my patience and that of Govern
ment has its limits.
About the Taona Case, I have left no stone unturned in order to get it
settled, and we have even referred for the orders of the British Government in
London for the purpose of obtaining money compensation from the Persian
Government, but the difficulty is that the Persian Government is in great
straits for money and is at the present moment seeking to borrow large
sums.
I do not lose sight of it for one week together, and I firmly believe that
you will receive compensation before long, but I cannot make definite promises
as the matter does not rest with me.
With regard to the other 3 cases about which you consider that you have
a grievance
4