'File II. IRAQ (3) Vol. 1 Shaikh of Kuwait's Date Gardens on the Shatt-al Arab. (Kuwait's relations with Turkish Govt. and Turkish demand that Kuwaitis should take out Turkish Nationality Certificates)' [‎150v] (316/636)

who is already inclined to credit Mubarak with intriguing with the English,
is almost certain to accept the dicta of such prominent men, however impro
bable the story may be. The enclosures to the Shaikh’s letter contain
evidence that these three men may be acting in concert, both in the matter of
delaying or preventing registration of his property, and also in poisoning the
acting \ ali’s (Saad Bey’s) mind over the Zobeir incident referred to my in my
letter No. C-43, of the 12th July 1910.
The Shaikh is justified in his fear, and I think His Majesty’s Consul at
Basrah wml confirm my opinion that, should these three prominent men support
any improbable story with their collective influence, there is no doubt that the
Turkish officials would accept their view, almost without question.
6. The Shaikh was particularly frank with me, because I think he is now
more thoroughly alarmed than he has hitherto been. He has held out against
all the Yah s persuasion to register his children as Turkish subjects ; the Vali,
therefore, though outwardly friendly, is undoubtedly chagrined at his failure :
consequently, an atmosphere particularly favourable to the usual methods of
1 urkish intrigue now exists.
7 * 1 did my best to reassure the Shaikh, enjoining him to be especially
careful in his dealings with the Vali so as on no account to rouse active hosti-
hty* assured me he would not register either himself or his children as
1 urkish subjects without the consent of the British Government but he looked
to us to assist him in this present difficulty.
au r| e as ^ ec ^ rn y advice as to w'hat course he should pursue in the event of
A mad Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. az Zuhair actually sending men to resume possession of the
radaghia property whether accompanied by Turkish officials or without them.
1 replied 1 could hardly advice him without reference to the Resident, but I was
| UI j e , ^, . k e .. a . s we ll to warn his fellahin Arabic for ‘peasant’. It was used by British officials to refer to agricultural workers or to members of a social class employed primarily in agricultural labour. and agent on the estate (Shaikh
baleh bin Brahim living at Dora) that on no account should there be any show
of force or active hostility. Should an attempt be made to resume possession,
fiis agent might endeavour to gam time by treating the intruders hospitably
explaining that he^ had no orders from his master and that without them he
cou d not leave his charge, whilst requesting them to address the Shaikh direct
in the matter. The Shaikh had a letter drafted to this effect at once, and I
trust that in the circumstances my action will meet with approval.
In view of the Shaikh’s extreme anxiety, I would solicit the favour of ins-
structions, for the Shaikh certainly anticipates some such move very shortly.
*-*• Since the above was drafted, the Shaikh has sent me a copy of the
last communication from the Vali on the subject of this property, of which I
nave the honour to enclose a copy with the Shaikh’s own letter. It will be seen
that the Vah s offer of assistance differs materially from that described in Mr.
“ Crow s letter No. 20, dated the 6th June 1910, to your address. The
Shaikh has sent no reply to this letter.
Dated 6th Rajab 1328, 13th July 1910.
From— Shaikh Mubarak-ES-Subah, Ruler of Kuwait,
To— COLONEE Cox, British Resident and Consul-General, Bushire.
After Ccmpliments. I represented to you descriptively on the 26th Temadi
I 1328 about the dangers which threatened to overtake my property el Fada-
ghia and forwarded to you a copy of the letter from the Agent of the seller,
Abdul \\ahab Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. el Kertas in which he warned me of the evils of delay and
1 (stated that I) saw dangers surrounding my property but that my confidence
was in your sense of honour and protection. I did not care for all their vain
intrigues especially when I received a reply from you dated the 28th lemadi I
1328 corresponding with the 7th June 1910 in which you stated that the facts of
the case ha\e been represented by telegraph to the Government by you and that
^ n-£ pe( ? th - at they T 11 be able t0 devise a P ro P er scheme for the solution of
this difficulty in a satisfactory manner. I was much pleased and remained
waiting during this period, and the present Vali of Basrah used to evince to me