'File 73/7 IV (D 25) Anglo-Turkish Negotiations' [‎35r] (79/103)

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^ Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
The Sheikh of Mohammerah to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir P. Cox.
(Translation.)
(After compliments.) Mohammerah, July 7, 1913.
AS regards the matter of the Commission for the safeguarding the interests of
commerce on the Shatt-el-Arab, I have understood the purport of the articles and the
scope of them, and your desire that I should authorise your Honour to inform the
British Government that, as Sheikh of Mohammerah and its dependencies, when the
time comes for the British Government to acquaint me with their advice for the entrust-
—ment of the supervision and protection of the interests of commerce and navigation in
the Shatt-el-Arab to the British member of the Commission, after its formation, I shall
be ready to comply, on the condition that the supervisor to whom I thus entrust my
interests will consult me in all questions affecting me, and that if we should not be of
one mind in regard to any matter, he will postpone action pending reference of the
issue to the British Government.
(Sealed) KHAZAL.
Enclosure 4 in No. 1.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir P. Cox to the Sheikh of Koweit.
(Translation.)
(After compliments.) Mohammerah, July 6, 1913.
AT my interview with your Honour and our friend Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Arfa (Sheikh of Moham
merah) to-day, I told your Honour of my having learnt from Captain Shakespear of
your being somewhat disturbed by the condition in the convention dealing with the
location of a Turkish representative at Koweit. I informed Government of the anxiety
which you felt on the subject, and to-day I have informed you verbally of the terms of
their response, I also explained to you my personal view that the mere existence of
the necessity of appointing a Turkish agent would be rather a useful indication of the
administrative autonomy of your Government. As you requested, I now write to you
the purport of the communication which I was instructed to make to you, so that you
may have it by you.
In it Government intimate that, in their opinion, the points which you have
conceded in the course of this agreement—which was on a give-and-take basis—you
must regard as the price paid in exchange for the great advantages which you
derive from it. Among them the confirmation of your independence on the basis of this
convention, and the formal recognition of your extensive claims. Further, it is not
hidden from your Honour that the Sublime Porte undertakes not to interfere in the
question of succession or in the internal or external affairs of your administration, and
you are also aware that there will always be an agent of the British Government
accredited to you at Koweit; again, it is established in your mind that you have the
formal assurance of the British Government to support you in your affairs so long as
you faithfully observe your engagements to us as you have in the past.
^ Having regard to all these considerations, and after these explicit explanations, the
v British Government is confident that your Honour will realise that the matter of the
appointment of a Turkish agent at Koweit is one of the nature of a formality, and that
there is no cause for you to be alarmed and disturbed thereby.
In conclusion, I am directed to assure you that there is no divergence between your
interests and those of the British Government, and that if they had seen in this detail
anything harmful or dangerous for your Honour, they would not have approved of it or
recommended it for your acceptance.
P. z. COX.
Enclosure 5 in No, 1.
The Sheikh of Koweit to Lieutenant-Colonel Sir P. Cox.
(Translation.) Mohammerah, July 7, 1913.
I HAVE received your esteemed letter of the 6th July, 1913 (1st Shaaban, 1331),
and understood its contents, in confirmation of what you explained to me verbally at
our interview to-day (i.e., 6th July).
[1825't—5] C