'File 53/1, 3, 5, 6 A (D 1) Koweit [Kuwait] affairs, 1896-1901' [‎346v] (723/788)

Turkish troops, and what was passing at Koweit and elsewhere. He was warned that if
the Vali heard such a report again he would be expelled from Bussorah.
There is, I believe, no truth whatever in the accusation brought against the clerk,
who is not in a position to supply information, and with whom I at least have had no
communication, direct or indirect. He has probably been traduced by an enemy, but the
incident shows the uneasiness of the Turkish authorities.
The military party mentioned in my telegram No. 4 of the 22nd September returned
to Bussorah after a short absence. No progress has been made with the Harbour-master
question, so far as I know.
I have, &c.
(Signed) A. C. WRATISLAW.
Inclosure 2 m No. 1. ,
Vice-Consul Wralislaw to Sir N. 0'Conor.
(No. 4)1-. Secret.) , ^ 7 -.onn ^
g- r Bussorah, September 16, lb99.
AS I have already had the honour to inform your Excellency by telegram, I
received on the 13th instant a private letter dated the 11th September, from Captain
Prideaux, Acting- Consul-General at Bushire, stating that he had been suddenly ordered
off to Koweit in Her Majesty's ship " Sphinx," which was to prevent any attack on the
place by the Turks. As Captain Prideaux informed me that he was to keep in telegraphic
communication with me and that the "Sphinx would call at Fao, and as further I was
aware that he would not he allowed to correspond with me by cypher within urkish
territory, I thought it better to proceed to Fao myself, which I did, arriving there
early on the morning of the 14th instant. I waited till night, but the Sphinx c ic
not arrive, and Captain Hore, I.M.S., whom Captain Prideaux had left in charge ot the
Consulate -General, was not. able to give me any further information respecting the
expedition of the " Sphinx " except that some apprehension was caused by the move
ments of a Turkish gun-boat. ^ i .
To-day the " Sphinx " called here on her way back to Bushire, and I learned irom
Captain Prideaux that nothing abnormal was occurring at Koweit and that Sheikh
Mubarek was under no apprehension. ^ ^ \
II am at a loss to understand from whence the Indian G-overnment can have obtained
information that an immediate attack on Koweit, necessitating a counter-move, was
meditated by the Turks. It can hardly have been from my reports, which, I venture to
submit, should be trusted rather than those of irresponsible informants.
A military expedition on the scale required for the occupation ot Koweit, could
hardly be organized with such secrecy that no news oi it would reach this C onsulate.
The sea-going squadron maintained by the Turks in these waters consists solely oi one
'nm-boatTof 800 tons, the "Zohaf," now anchored off Bussorah and shortly to return
her station on the Arab coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. which she recently left withoM
permission under circumstances already reported to your Excellency. Her iate consoit,
the " Seyad-i-deira," a tiny vessel apparently of some 200 tons lef t Bussorah on the
4th instant, to endeavour to convey to Constantinople the time-expired Turkish sailors
of the " Zohaf," and I presume it was her movements that gave rise to fears for the sal^ty
There appears to be some friction at present between the Vali and Mouhsin Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ,
the Ferik in command of the troops here, for the former to-day sent me a message
through my Dragoman to the effect that Moushin was unjustly blaming him for not
having ,9;iven Mubarek notice of his intention to send a harbour-master to Koweit. Ilis
Excellency said that he did not send off his functionary till twelve days after receipt of
instructions from the Minister of Marine, which instructions he immediately referred to
the Grand Vizier who, however, vouchsafed no reply. Sheikh Mubarek, backed up by
the Nakib's family, had telegraphed to the Porte to complain of him (Hamdi) and it \\as
evident from the Sheikh s present arrogant attitude that he had enteied into an
agreement with some powerful Government, presumably the British, through the Bushire
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. .