'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.' [‎184r] (372/386)

They had received from the Turkish Government an assurance that there
is no intention of landing Turkish troops at Kowcit, or of disturbing the status
quo there. They had on their side given an assurance that on these conditions
they have no intention of occupying Koweit or declaring a Protectorate over it,
and the Turkish Government had declared itself to be satisfied and to consider
the incident as disposed of.
1 am, &c.,
LANS DOWNE.
71
Foreign Office to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. .
SlE,
24th September 1901.
I have laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne your letter of the l^th
instant, enclosing copies of telegraphic correspondence with the Viceroy of
India in regard to the proposal that the Sheikh of Kowcit should be advised to
discontinue the use of the Turkish flag.
It appears from the Viceroy’s telegram of the 4th instant that the Resi
dent at Bushire is of opinion that “ the events of the last two and-a-half years
have so disturbed the status quo ante that the determination of the status of
Koweit cannot be much longer postponed.” Colonel Kemball goes on to suggest
that the use of the Turkish flag, the emblem of Turkish supremacy, should he
discontinued as soon as possible, and proposes that the Sheikh should instead
fly the ordinary rod Arab flag.
Lord Lansdowne understands that there is no doubt that the Sheikh of
Koweit has used the Turkish flag since 1871, and there does not appear to have
been any period since that year when His Majesty’s Government have not
been ready to admit at least the suzerainty, if not the actual sovereignty, of
the Sultan over the territory extending from Basrah to El Katif.
Sheikh Mubarak possesses valuable landed property at Eao and near
Baghdad, and he and his predecessors have accepted the title of Kaimakam
from the Turkish Government.
Lord Lansdowne’s views in regard to the status of Koweit are given in his
despatch to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Berlin, No. 312 of 12th instant, record
ing the language held on the subject by His Lordship’s direction to the
German Minister at this Court in reply to enquiries made by him.
A copy of that despatch was transmitted to you in my letter of the 20th
instant. Count Metternich was informed that His Majesty s Go'sernment have
no desire to interfere with the stutus quo or with the Sultan’s authority as it
exist in the region of Koweit, that they have no wish to raise any question
as to whether Koweit forms an integral part of the Ottoman dominions, and
that, bavin* received from the Turkish Government an assurance that there
is no intention of landing Turkish troops at Koweit or of disturbing the status
quo there, they on their side have given an assurance that on these conditions
they have no intention of occupying Koweit or declaring a British Protectorate
over it.
As His Majesty’s Government have constantly laid stress on the mainte
nance of the status quo at Koweit, it appears to Lord Lansdowne that they
cannot, with any consistency, now put forward the contention that the events
of the last two and-a-half years have so disturbed it as to render the new
departure, which is now proposed, inevitable.
In these circumstances, His Majesty s Government would not, in his
Lordship’s opinion, be justified in advising the Sheikh to discontinue the use
of the Turkish flag. _ .
I am, &c,
T. H. SANDERSON.