'File 73/7 IV (D 25) Anglo-Turkish Negotiations' [‎41v] (94/103)

obtain his co-operation on so extended a scale and particularly requested that the
matter should be kept secret even from the Shaikh s bosom friend, Shaikh Sir
Khazal Khan.
3. In relating the story to me Shaikh Mubarak said he had no intention of
agreeing for the suggestion seemed obviously a manoeuvre designed to shift to
his shoulders the unpleasant burden of controlling the desert tribes, in which the
Turks had failed so lamentably, whilst he personally would remain always ready
to their hand, should the Turkish authorities require in future an excuse^ or a
scape-goat on which to fasten any further consequences of their own inaptitude.
He said he had requested Abdul Aziz bin Salim to convey to the Acting Wali
his appreciation of the honour conferred in inviting his co-operation and to say
that he regretted he had his time very fully occupied with the administration of
his own territories, people and tribes, that he was an old man, and that he could
not presume to advise the distinguished officials the Porte might appoint to the
charge of the Basra Vilayet, who would naturally be better informed regarding
matters in their own province than was possible for the Shaikh, living as he
did at a distance.
4 1 thanked the Shaikh for his frankness in telling me the story and
contented myself with observing that though the scheme theoretically might have
advantages for the Porte I could see none in it for the Shaikh of Kuwait, but
rather a probability of unending difficulties with the desert tribes, Ibn Kashid
and the Amir of Nejd, the almost inevitable result of the equivocal position in
which he personally would be placed ; that, as he well knew, the prosperity ot
his port and people depended very largely upon his maintaining good and
amicable relations with the chiefs of the interior of Arabia.
C119FD—44—18-12-13—GCBP Simla