'File 73/7 II (D 22) Status of Koweit [Kuwait] - Baghdad railway, Anglo Turkish negotiations' [‎194r] (393/540)

C ONFIDE NTIAL.
No. 1876, dated Bushire, the 18th (received 26th) August 1912.
From — L ieutenant -C olonel S ir P. Cox. K C.I.E., C.S.I., Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency.
in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The H on'ble L ieutenant -C olonel S ir H. M c M ahon, G.C.V.O.,
K.C.I.E., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign
Department, Simla.
In continuation of ray letter No. 1727, dated 4th August, and with reference
to ray telegram No. 845, dated the 16th August, 1 have the honour to forward for
the information of the Government of India a copy of the marginally cited tele-
p .. . . r j* not mo . , ^ prams, which I addressed to His Majesty's
Resident to India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , No 843. dated the 16th ? v ^rr • • jo ^ o
August 1912. India Urnce, communicating an abstract of
^Rwident to ^diaOffice, No.d^edthe ^tii Captain Shakespear's Report upon the
boundaries of the Kuwait principality, with
particular reference to the control exercised by Shaikh Mubarakh over the nomad
tribes within those limits
A copy of the Report itself, which has been simultaneously forwarded
No. C,-62, dated t h. .ith August .9.2. t0 the India 0ffice ' is 3,80 enclosed.
Telegram (P.) No. 843, dated the 16th August 1912.
From—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. , London.
My telegram 779 of 1st August and letter 1727 which will reach London
24th.
This latter and also report now received from Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kuwait, which
will reach London 8th September, were written before receipt of copy of memo
randum transmitted by His Majesty's Government to Turkish Ambassador on
July 18th.
The boundary that Shakespear would have advocated as the result of his
past enquiries and as representing the claims of the Shaikh, would have been as
follows:—
Starting from junction of Khor Sabiya and Khor Zobair boundary would
pass along waterway of latter so as to include Soof Island opposite Umra Kasr
in latter Khor. The line would then pass north of Umm Kasr wells and north of
Safwan wells and Jabal Sanam to the Ratk ridge ; thence south-west along the
Batin as far as and including Hafar wells. From Hafar it turns south-east
towards Safah and includes the wells ; passing thence south-south-east, for about
25 miles, it includes A1 Gara'a wells ; and from thence proceeds due east passing
south of Wabrah and Anta's wells and so on until it cuts coast at southern shore
of Mussalamiyah Bay which with its islands is claimed by Shaikh.
As regards Umm Kasr, Safwan and Mussalamiyah, Shakepear remarks that
whereas Shaikh has always specifically claimed these points when mention of
them has arisen, we have never informed him that we questioned his claims and
he will consequently be greately disappointed when he learns that they have been
arbitrarily excluded from his territory,
Cj3asis of boundary arrived at by Shakespear is the actual control of wells by J
tribesmen owning allegiance to Shaikh Mubarakh and this of course is the main
test of territorial possession in desert countries inhabited by nomads; document-l
ary evidence in such cases is never procurable.
Following evidence or considerations are advanced in support of particular
points.
As regards Umm Kasr, until present occupation of Turks, wells were habi
tually frequented by Kuwait Arabs and all disputes arising there were referred to