'File 73/7 III (D 24) Status of Kuwait & Anglo-Turkish negotiations' [‎275v] (560/709)

of the 26th March. I shall, however, take the first opportunity made possible by the
sheikh's improvement in health to prepare him for the fact that he must expect a
considerable alteration in his present view of the position.
4. Meanwhile, I venture to submit, for consideration, the following points, trusting
that even now it may not be too late to obtain better terms for the sheikh :
As a result of my recent tour, I have been able to lay down with some accuracy the
position of wells and other features to the south-west of Koweit by which the sheikh s
southern boundary is determined. The sheikh claims to include the Al-Gara'a and
Al-Haba wells, and all the information I have been able to collect points to the fact
that his claim is justly founded. I have attached herewith the confidential " Map of
the Koweit Hinterland," with the doubtful portion in the south corrected from my
latest tours, and would invite a comparison with the same map uncorrected in your
office as likely to be useful. By far the strongest argument in support of the sheikh's
claim, however, is the actual situation of the wells themselves, laking the Ai-ITaba
wells as a centre, and striking a semi-circle of 90 miles radius from east round by south
to west, discloses the fact that in the whole of the intervening country there is not a
single well, and that the nearest, wells to the southward lie on this semi-circle, viz., those
of Awaina, on the east, situate 27 miles south of Anta'a, next those of Hafar-al-Ats,
almost due south from Al-Haba, and those of Gaiyiya (at 105 miles), south-west of
Al-Haba. It may be taken for granted that nomad Arabs recognise authority in the
desert according to wells, and never in all my tours have I heard it suggested that the
wells of Hafar, As-Safa, Al-Gara'a, and Al-Haba (all along the sheikh's southern
boundary) were not in Koweit territory and jurisdiction. How 1 came to omit the
Al-Haba wells from my previous report, dated the 12th August, 1912, I cannot now
understand. I have marked in blue pencil what is undoubtedly the actual boundary on
the attached corrected map. As I have traversed personally the whole of this district,
obtained my information from Bedouin camping actually on the spot, and myself
produced what map there is of the tract, I claim that my opinion is entitled at least to
as much weight as the assertions of the Turkish Government, which has no real or first
hand knowledge of the area, facts, or conditions as they actually exist.
5. While I am fully aware that an agreement with Turkey regarding Koweit can
be reached only by compromise, I venture to submit with all deference that it is worth
while, in our own interests, to consider how any compromise is likely to be regarded by
the ruler of Koweit and his people, and its probable effect on our relations. It must be
recollected that the sheikh has not been informed of the course of the negotiations, nor
of the Turkish demands, nor of our suggestions or concessions thereto—he has left his
case in our hands, with the expectation that we will at least see his just demands satis
fied. Consequently, we shall have to bear the odium and any resentment resulting
from such disappointment as may follow from the agreement falling short of the sheikh's
expectations. I have shown in previous reports and above what can fairly be considered
Koweit boundaries, and now propose to state what I feel convinced would be the really
genuine objections the sheikh would advance to the draft agreement on the Foreign Office
print dated the 26th March, if it were communicated to him.
6. Taking the draft agreement by articles seriatim—
(a.) Article 1 may be passed by as without objection.
(b.) In article 2 the objection is that the title of kai'makam is a very inferior one and
connotes that Koweit territory is merely a " qadha." An almost exact parallel would be
furnished by calling the sheikh a deputy-commissioner or collector under the Indian
Government and his territory a " district." When it is added that a Turkish
kaimakam's annual salary amounts to 135Z. to 270Z. only, and the position indicated
thereby is contrasted with the fact that the sheikh has hitherto enjoyed almost complete
independence, been accorded a salute of twelve guns by British men-of-war and
always been addressed officially as " Kuler of Koweit," the depreciation of his position
under the draft agreement may be realised in some measures. Further, though Turkish
officials address him as kaimakarn and add the title of pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , the sheikh himself does not
acknowledge the style, and invariably describes himself as " Ruler of Koweit and Chief
of its Tribes." I venture to think that we should stipulate for Koweit to be
described at least as a sanjak and its ruler as a mutesarrif, of which the Indian
equivalents would be a division and a commissioner. The question of the continuance
of a salute to the sheikh would also seem to be involved in our recognition of whatever
Turkish title or rank may be selected.
(c.) Article 3 defines complete autonomy sufficiently clear.