File 2764/1904 Pt 4 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; proposals of Turkish Govt; status of Kowait' [‎170r] (344/674)

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Government abstained from sending troops to
Koweit and respected tbe status quo there, they
would not occupy that place or establish a British
protectorate over it.
British trade relations with^TCoweit have existed
for upwards of two centuries and, inasmuch as
the place has attracted merchants from all quarters
by the equity of its rule and the freedom of its
trade, His Majesty’s Government could not consent
to any interference with the^internal adminis
tration On the other hand, they are prepared to
recognise Turkish suzerainty over Koweit, and
to recognise the Sheikh as a Turkish Kaimakam,
provided this condition JKs to freedom of the
administration from external controljis fulfilled;
provided in other respects the status quo is
[upheld, including]certain agreements which the
Sheikh has concluded with the British Govern-
menj^; provided the islands of Warba and Bubian
are admitted by Turkey to be within the confines
of Koweit, and Turkish military posts are with
drawn ; and provided finally the Sheikh is
admitted to the full and undisturbed enjoyment
of any properties he may own or hereafter
purchase on Turkish territory. Koweit would
thus form a sort of enclave within, and forming
part of, the Ottoman Kmpire^and the interests of
the Sheikh would be identified with those of the
suzerain Power7]
Certain difficulties have recently arisen in
regard to the buoyage of the Shat-el-Arab. For
a great number of years British shipping has,
owing to its volume, been predominantly, and
until recently almost exclusively, interested in
these aids to navigation. For over fifty years
[this work]has been carried out by British agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
to the general satisfaction of all concerned,|and
in fulfilment of the object of the Mediating
Commissioners in 1850, whose aim was to secure
freedom of access to the two ports of
Mohammerah and BussorahTj
]jn these circumstances7]His Majesty’s Govern
ment have some difficulty in appreciating why
the Ottoman Government have [taken exception
tojxisting and long-standing arrangements ; but,
being desirous of dealing with the difficulty in a
spirit of conciliation, they would propose to the
Ottoman Government the appointment of a small
riverain commission, composed of a British and a
Turkish representative, with an engineer to be
mutually agreed upon. This commission would
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