'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎41v] (87/386)

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, ^ n iw « rlknersal of the huge panic-stricken gathering of
and were followed hy a d!. xroVih of Basrah arrived at Koweit as bearer
nomads. In November 1901 ; and in the
of a threatening mes f^ e ^ 0 ^ a visit i n the “ Zuhaf”, accompanied
We WaH of e Zrah’s b^her^and JCwasa eS
— ^X°of
SWWXS ^“^5 to ^isb ultimatum
ho in the ena re u . . ti d baffled. Au assurance winch
ffis er M P aZtT’ S Gover menT authorised at this juncture that they would
^nnort the Shrikh and would not tolerate an attack on Koweit hy Turkish
Xs or vessels did not reach the Sheikh until the crisis was over. The
Porte on remonstrances being made, repudiated the proceedings of the Nakib
at Kowrit ahd were told that? if they were unable to control their own officials,
at Koweit ana we British Government to acquiesce m the
it might become impossible for the British uo\eriimeub 4 Bashid
rontinuance of the status quo. But the danger was not yet past, Ibn Bas i
was at ttos time cucamped in the neighbourhood of Basrah with a considerable
force and was to constant correspondence with the Turkish authorities by whom
he was provided with money and supplies ; and commercial intercourse bet
ween Turkish territory and Koweit had been cut off by “ Impem! Ottoman
edict. At the end of December 1901 and beginning o f.Tanua 1 yl9 0 2anattadi
on Koweit by Ibn Bashid appeared so imminent that the British war
vessels W “Pomone,” “Sphinx" and “ Redbreast" were stationed m the
bay for the defence of the town, British machine guns were landed and
placed in the Jahrah fort, and Koweit and its approaches were set m a state
of defence by the joint exertions of the Sheikh and the Bl ’ ltlsl L
mander. Disheartened, perhaps, by these < preparations, Ibn Basbid hun 0
back and at length returned to Central Arabia without approaching the place.
The attention of the Turks had meanwhile been drawn to the importance
of Khor Abdullah and its branches, which are situated on the frontier between
Koweit and the Basrah Wilayat, and under cover of the confusion created
at Koweit by Ibn Rashid’s threatened attack they had succeeded, un
observed, in establishing military posts at Safwan and Um. Kasr, places
claimed by the Sheikh of Koweit; these posts were m existence by the
middle of February 1902. In March 1902 the Turkish garrison at Basrah
was increased, and Mubarak to prevent further encroachments placed a tnbpl
garrison at Heieje upon Khor Subbiyeh. Turkish activity continued also iu
other directions. In April 1902 the Turks occupied Musallamieh island, and
the movement, though it did not affect the integrity of Koweit territory, was
regarded by the Sheikh as a demonstration against his southern border. Mean
while frequent raids were committed on Koweit subjects near the Turkish
frontier in the neighbourhood of Safwan ; and in May 1902, as a further
means of harassment, the Sheikh's agent at Basrah was arrested and sentenced
to imprisonment on a charge of treason against the Turkish Government. In
September 1902 a boat expedition, arranged by Mubarak’s fugitive nephews
with the assistance of their maternal relative Yusuf-bin-lbrahim of Dorab, a
rich merchant and influential landholder, left Dorah in Turkish territory to
attack Koweit; but it was surprised and broken up at sea. by H.M.S. “ Lap
wing." At length in 1903 the progress of Ibn Saud in Nejd compelled
Ibn Bashid and the Turks to devote their whole attention to affairs jn
Central Arabia, and from this time onwards Koweit enjoyed peace in its
external relations. In September 1903 an important suit relating to lands in
Turkish Arabia A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. , which had been brought by bis nephews against Mubarak in
the Turkish courts, was amicably settled ; and in November 1993 the improved
position of affairs at Koweit was signalised by LordCurzon’s visit to the place,
which has already been described. Lord Curzon presented the Sheikh with a
sword of honour, received his representations regarding the Turkish occupation
of ITm Kasr and Bubiyan, and repeated the advice, already more than once given
to the Sheikh, that he should abstain from interference in the affairs of Central
Arabia. The Viceroy’s visit was followed by a loan of Bs. 1,00,000 .made by the
Government of India to the Sheikh for the purpose of enabling him to carry
out the settlement with his nephews : this advance Mubarak promptly repaid.