Notes Prepared for Reference during Curzon’s Tour of the Persian Gulf, and Other Papers on Persia and the Persian Gulf [‎210r] (419/678)

1899 .
5
I
this latter step in the existing circumstances, H.M.S. “ Sphinx ” was ordered
merely to call at Koweit and proceed without making any stay.
In his Despatch No. 440 of the 13th September 1899, Sir N. O’Conor
reported that he had carried out his instructions, and had received an
assurance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs that no further attempt
would be made to insist upon the appointment of the harbour master; that
the Ottoman Government had no intention of establishing a custom house at
Koweit; and that the despatch of a military expedition was not in contem
plation, as, though such an expedition had been proposed by the Yali, the
Sultan did not consider it worth the risk or expense.
In a Despatch written on the following day Sir N. O’Connor reported that
it had been represented to him by Anthopoulo Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that the >ultan was
much disturbed by his (Sir ,N. 0.Conor’s language with regard to Koweit,
which appeared to indicate a desire on the part of Her Majesty’s Government
to interfere with Plis Majesty’s liberty of action in Turkish territory. Sir
N. O’Conor replied that it would be better to leave no door open for mis
understanding, and he repeated his language of the previous day, emphasising
the points that Her Majesty’s Government had no aggressive intentions in
those parts, and that it depended on the Ottoman Government not to raise
an intricate and unpleasant question without necessity. He added that Her
Majesty’s Government were in most friendly relations with the Sheikh of
Koweit and could not pass without notice any hostile action taken against
him ; but he avoided the direct issue of the territorial dependency of the
Admiralty
to Foreign
Office, dated
14th Sept.
1899.
Political,
2299/99.
2332-3/99.
No. 442,
dated 14th
Sept. 1899.
Sheikh.
In a further Despatch Sir N. O’Conor reported that he had had a
further conversation with Tewfik Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , in which he again impressed
upon the Foreign Minister the desirability of not now raising a question
about Koweit, reminding him that in 1883 Lord Granville had informed
Rustem Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. that the Turkish right of sovereignty over the El Katar
Coast had never been admitted by Her Majesty’s Government. Tewfik Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders.
agreed in considering it inexpedient to raise this awkward question.
The language held by Sir N. O’Conor was approved by Her Majesty’s
Government.
In his Despatch No. 434 of the 13th September, Sir N. O’Conor
reported the steps taken by the Consul at Busrah in fulfilment of the promise
that Her Majesty’s Government would do what they could to protect the
estates of the Koweit chiefs at Fao. Mr. Wratislaw had on the.26th July,
in accordance with instructions conveyed to him by Sir N. O’Conor in July,
expressed to the Yali a hope that an equitable settlement would scon be
arrived at of the rival claims of Sheikh Mubarak and of the sons of the late
Sheikh, it being a matter in regard to which Her Majesty’s Government
were not indifferent. From the conversation which followed, it appeared
that Mubarak had made totally inadequate proposals; and the Consul was of
opinion that he had been treated by the Porte with “ surprising tenderness,”
consideriug that he had declined to submit to the jurisdiction of the Turkish
Courts, within which the estates in question undoubtedly lie, and had for
three years appropriated the whole of the revenues. The Consul, notwith
standing his instructions (see telegram to Sir N. O’Conor, dated 17th June),
had not thought it opportune on this occasion to warn the Yali against taking
hostile action against Mubarak till indications of the necessity of such a
warning, which were not then apparent, should present themselves. The
warning was subsequently delivered to the Yali on the 8th September 1899.
Under the date of the 5th October (No. 474) Sir N. O’Conor reported that
Sheikh Mubarak had unsuccessfully attempted to place himself under the
protection of the Persian Government, and it appeared from a Despatch of
the Consul at Busrah, subsequently (6th November) received, that the Sheikh
had written to his friend, the British Agent at Bahrein, to the effect that he
had no great confidence in British support, and that, knowing that the Tm’ks
hostile to him, he had applied for Persian protection.
Consul Wratislaw’s Despatch* of the 16th September 1899 indicated that
Mubarak had then turned his attention to intrigues with the Nakib of
Busrah and Mob sin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the military commander, against Hamdi Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
the Yali, which ultimately resulted in the dismissal of the latter, and the
promotion of Mohsin to be Yali of Busrah.
S. 36. B
No. 443,
dated 15 th
Sept. 1899.
Political,
2369/99.
2332/99.
(2104/99.)
2297/99.
2432/99.
2456/99.
Mr. Wratis
law’s De
spatch,
No. 46, dated
2nd Oct.
(2432/99.)
* No. 44.
Sir N.
O’Conor,
No. 85, dated
13th March
1900.
(1996/1900.)