'File 73/7 III (D 24) Status of Kuwait & Anglo-Turkish negotiations' [‎136v] (285/709)

Article 7 is usolesa from the Shaikh's point of view for reasons already given in
paragraph 4 above, and moreover is not desired by him. In this conneetion
it would seem desirable that the evacuation of the Turkish posts on Bubian
Island and Um Kasr should be ensured either by the present agreement, or, if
preferred, separately if that at Safvvan is allowed to rem in. It will be clear
from reports ever since the occupation of these posts in 1902 that the Shaikh
would have taken measures to eject the Turks but for beinj? restrained by
.British assurances that we had not lost sighr of the matter. The stipulations
in Article 6 prohibiting Turkey from stationing garrisons or taking military or
naval action within Kuwait boundaries should be maintained.
ff) Article 8 requires no comment.
[y) Article 9 requires no comment beyond that I believe the Shaikh hns
already succeeded in obtaining legal recognition for his landed properties in
that permission is said to have been granted for their registration in his own
name without the formality of-taking out a Turkish " natas tnzkireh
{h) Article 10 would, I am certnin, be most strongly opposed by the
Shaikh for the reasons given in Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. telegram No. 602, dated the 28th
March 1913. If some such clause is strongly pressed for, it might be worded
s.. as to permit the passage of Turkish troops to Nejd by no route nearer to
Kuwait than the caravan road passing along the western boundary from Bas« - ah,
by the Hatin depression to Hafar wells.
7. Though the foregoing may be said to be largely destructive criticism
of the draft agreement, I have endeavoured to show how that agreement may
be made somewhat less unpalatable to the Shaikh. Unpalatable it will be and
will remain for years even with the emendations I have suggested, but it seems
to me that in treating with the Turkish Government we have hardly given the
Shaikh's irrefutable rights the consideration due to them, for his claim has
throughout been founded on a just minimum of existing facts which we have
been at some pains to investigate ourselves, whilst in our desire to meet the
Porte wp have shown a benevolent sympathy to their vague, extravagant
and nebulous claims, unsupported ?s they are by nny real evidence, which they
do not merit. That we may obtain a quid pro quo elsewhere does not affect
Kuwait for the Sheikh will judge the agreement as it touches himself
and his people and inasmuch as he has left his whole case unreservedly in
our hands he will be the more inclined to resent any serious diminution of
his territory, prestige, rights or privileges. The whole force of such resent-
rm nt will certainly recoil upon us, more especially were the idea to obtain
that we had benefited in some other sphere, and it is because I feel so strongly
that the advent of any bitterness in our very cordial relations wiih the Ruler
of Kuwait should be avoided as far as may be possible that I have ventured
to submit, the above paragraphs for consideration. Shaikh Mubarak has been
far more loyal and straightforward in his dealings with us than we could have
anticipated from an oriental chief of so little education, and therefore merits
the most benevolent consideration of his claims at our hands, more particulary
when we are negotiating regarding them practically without consulting him,
the party most interested.
Rou{?h translation of an Article appearing in Arabic newspaper " Al-Dastur published in
Basrah, dated the 12th Jamadi-al-Awal 1331 (16th April 1913).
K uwait.
(Extract) copied by the Turkish paper Sabah " from the " Jeune Turc
the organ of the Union (and Progress Committee)—that the Turkish and
British Government are prepared to conclude an agreement between them
selves upon the placing of Kuwait, which is in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. alone {i.e.,
autonomous). And the English (Government) by their quality as an Islamic
Power are addressing the Turkish Government on the safeguarding of their
le^al interests, but this proposal will not affect at all the status quo between
them and other powers in Eastern questions. In exchange for this Great