Coll 30/21 'Persian Gulf: Koweit. Blockade by Ibn Saud. Koweit-Nejd Relations' [‎171v] (353/1142)

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scrupulously and faithfully observe the conditions of the said bond,” under which
the Sheikh had pledged himself, his heirs and successors, not to receive the agent
or representative of any Power or Government at Koweit without the previous
sanction of the British Government, and not to cede, sell, lease or mortgage, or
give for occupation or for any other purpose, any portion of his territory to the
Government or subjects of any other Power without the previous consent of His
Majesty’s Government.
2. By article '9 of the Secret Agreement of the 15th October, 1907, for the
lease of the Bunder Shweikh foreshore, 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. intimated that he
was ‘ c duly authorised on behalf of the precious Imperial English Government to
promise, and do hereby promise, that the town of Koweit and its boundaries
likewise belong to Sheikh Mobarak-us-Suba, Ruler of Koweit, and to his heirs
after him, and that all Sheikh Mobarak’s arrangements in the matter of
customs, &c., and all his arrangements at the present day shall remain in the
hands of Sheikh Mobarak-us-Suba, Ruler of Koweit, and of his heirs after him,
and . . . In consideration of this promise the Sheikh undertook not to levy
customs dues in excess of 4 per cent, on goods imported or exported by “the
subjects of the aforesaid English Government,” save with the approval of that
Government.
3. The undertakings given in writing to the Sheikh on the 3rd November,
1914, in return for his co-operation against the Turks, contained an assurance
that “ Koweit shall be recognised as an independent principality under British
protection.”
ft
(B )—Construction of the Undertakings given to the Sheikh.
4. As will be seen, the engagements entered into by His Majesty’s Govern
ment with the Sheikh are in rather general terms, and it is perhaps desirable
briefly to record the construction placed upon them at various times by His
Majesty’s Government.
5. In 1901, when there was a Turkish threat to Koweit, the Viceroy was
informed (Secretary of State’s telegram No. 45 of the 4th December, 1901) that
this appears to constitute a distinct violation of the Sultan’s promise ” (to
respect the status quo), “ and in these circumstances His Majesty’s Government
are prepared to support the Sheikh, and will not tolerate an attack by Turkish
troops or ships upon Koweit. The Sheikh should not leave Koweit, and should
continue to observe his engagement with us.” The assurance given is clearly
limited by the words “ in these circumstances ” to this particular case. More-
oyei, it is not conditional on, and is independent of the Sheikh’s observance of
his agreement of 1899.
6. On the 21st March, 1902, Lord Lansdowne, then Secretary of State for
Foieign Affairs, in a memorandum on the situation in Koweit, remarked that our
obligations toward the Sheikh were c as ill-defined as the boundaries of his
piincipality. Wh ha\e distinctly announced that he does not enjov British
1 protection ’; on the other hand, we once made him a present of £1,000. and
piomised him oui good offices, whatever that may mean. When we made this
promise we weie, I feel no doubt, thinking of Koweit proper, if there is such a
thing, and not of Boob\an or other outskirts over which the Sheikh has rights
of one sort or another ... We might, it seems to me, explain (1) to the
Poite; (2) to the Sheikh; and (3) to the foreign Powers immediately interested
the objects or our policy. I should be inclined to say that our engagements to
Koweit do not extend beyond the district adjoining or close to the bay of that
name, and to endeavour to obtain the adhesion of the Porte and of the Sheikh
to our approximate definition of that district. . ”
7. Later, in 1902, it was reported that Ibn Rashid was making energetic
preparation for attacking Ihn Sand, then the Sheikh of Koweit’s friend, and the
o eiai was warned not to take any action likely to bring him into difficulties
with e^her Nejd or Turkey. About the same time the Sheikh informed us that
Ibn baud had with him a gun presented by the Turks, and asked for a gift of
two or three guns, which it was understood were wanted for Jehara to protect
Jnnof 1 agams ] t and attac , k - ^he Viceroy (telegram No. 39 of the 3rd October,
1902) proposed to reply that the Sheikh’s request could not be granted “but
that, provided he complied with the injunction conveyed to him in pursuance of
your telegram of the 4th December, 1901 (see paragraph 5 above). His Majesty’s