File 2182/1913 Pt 4 'Persian Gulf: Policy towards Bin Saud (Capt. Shakespear's Mission)' [‎74v] (146/426)

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arrival for a meeting as desired by him. I also informed you regarding the
com t of Saiyyid falib Naqib to me, and his good intentions which are for your
interests and "t in any wa/ opposed thereto. I formed you ^ ^ o»r
meeting I would explain to you what it was necessary to explain. 1
for coming was to strengthen the foundation of friendship and sincerity and to
explain the facts about the said Saiyyid for whom I have a great regard an m
whose sincerity and right-mindedness, which is the result of his knowledge and
friendship with you, I place confidence. And because the said Captain as n
arrived here up to now, I am obliged to await him here as I do not know what
time he might come. I have therefore found it necessary to send yon Haji
Sulaiman Faizi with the letter and have asked to explain to you my own and
Saiyyid Talib’s views, and I tell you with all clearness that Saiyyid Talib has been
a friend to vou for a long time. He has also known my views and has con
stantly warned me against the Turks and urged on me the necessity of relations
with you and of friendship with you. Now as regards his intercourse with the
Turks during the war, which was assumed out of fear lest his family and depend
ents should suffer from their treachery and deceit. This will no doubt be forgiven
him lust as he will not be forgiven if after your occupation of Basrah he be
o-uilty of any act against you. Believe me that if he gives you an undertaking
he will never violate it, and profit will accrue from it in future. He has in
fluence with the chief people among the Muhammadans and Arabs, and he is
one of the sincere people and I endorse whatever undertaking he gives you. It
this suits you and you think it suitable to call him to Basrah and to please ms
mind with what is suitable for the dignity of the high British Government, I
shall thereby be greatly obliged and thank your kindness and my attachment
will increase. This will give great satisfaction to the Arab public. They will
believe that this act is an example for others. I request you not to pay atten
tion to the talk of lying jealous individuals who had a good deal to do with him
and me before. I request an early and favourable reply by the hands of the
bearer of this letter.
Enclosure No. I, Serial No. 4.
Translation of a letter from Saiyyid Talib, Naqibzadah, to Sir P. Z. Cox,
Political Officer with the Indian Expeditionary Force, dated the 22nd
Muharram 1333, corresponding to the 10th December 1914.
After compliments. —Let it not be hidden from you that two years ago
when I, like the other Arab vilayats, asked for reforms in our towns (province),
the Turkish Government accused me of being inclined towards your good
Government. From that time the Turkish Government has suspected me and
its mind has been poisoned against me. Owing to this, my confidence in the
Government disappeared, so much so that I had to go in fear of my life. I
had been communicating with your high Government before the declaration
of war through Shaikh Khazal Khan, the Consul at Muhammerah, and the
Consul at Basrah, and the result of the communications then held is not hidden
from you. My communications with the British Government were held
not only then but before then also, viz., with Lord x Kitchener when he
was in Egypt. When the war was declared, and the Turkish troops in Basrah
increased in number and the fighting was hot, they {i.e., the Turks) began to
put pressure on me to collect tribes to fight with you, and they pressed me to
do things which I could not do against your Government. They even
compelled me to sign telegrams written by the Commandant of troops at
Qishla, and he insisted on my signing them to (the address of) the people
of Bahriyah and Ziyadiyah, which I could not possibly refuse. In the
circumstances I found the best course was to go out of Basrah in order to
save myself from their demands which did not suit my ways and view
which have been in your favour from of old. I discussed this matter
with Shaikh Khazal Khan, who alsq considered it {i.e., departure from
Basrah) advisable, for the reason that if I had acted against the wishes
of the Turks and dealt openly with you, my life and the lives of my children
and of my family, and my property, all of them would have been in great
danger and they would have killed me as they were in a strong position. I