"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎١‎٠‎٢‎٤] (١٧٨٢/١١٧٩)

1024
Katification
of the
Agreement,
16th
February
1899.
Her Majesty's Government^ on the proceedings being reported to
them, approved the action of the Resident and authorised ratification of
the Agreement, notwithstanding that it went beyond what they had in
tended ; and it was accordingly ratified on the ] 6th of February. A hope
was also held out to Shaikh Mubarak, under the orders of the Secretary of
State, that the British authorities would do what they could to protect his
interests and those of his brothers in the matter of their estates at Fao,
a share in which was claimed by the nephews in Turkish territory. Of
the sum of £1 ,000 paid to Shaikh Mubarak half was contributed by the
Home Government and half was charged to Indian revenues.
General history of Kuwait from the Exclusive Agreement to the
appointment of a British Political Agent at Kuwait, 1899-1904.
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Attempts
by Tnrkey to
assert
authority at
Kuwait and
resistance of
the Shaikh,
January-
September
1899.
The next few months witnessed strenuous efforts by the Turkish author
ities at Basrah, possibly due to their having become aware of the Shaikh's
Agreement with Britain, to assert themselves at Kuwait ; Shaikh
Mubarak on his part showed a new intractability in his dealings with the
Turks j and a rather strained situation arose. On the occasion of Colonel
Meade's visit to Kuwait objections were made by the Turkish sanitary
propose there, an ordinary Arab, to the landing of the Resident's party
from the " Lawrence, " as being a breach of the Turkish sanitary regula
tions. They were disregarded, and a protest by the Turkish Government
followed, but had no result. In February 1899 a movement against
Kuwait by sea was apprehended on the part of the Turks, and the
question of protective measure was considered by Her Majesty's
Government, who decided that in case of need a serious warning should
be addressed to the Porte, and that until this had been done no forcible
action should be taken by British ships. In March the state of affairs
seemed so critical that the Government of India caused II.M.S.
"Lapwing" to be stationed for a time in the neighbourhood of
Kuwait, and the employment of a secret news writer at Kuwait was
sanctioned. In the same month, the Russian gun-vessel " Gilyak "
called at Kuwait, and the Russian Consul from Baghdad, who was
on board, had an ordinary interview with the Shaikh. In iMay Shaikh
Mubarak, who now appeared anxious to precipitate matters with the
Turks, established regular customs at Kuwait and began to realise an
enhanced duty of 5 per cent, on all imports, including those from