'Memorandum respecting Koweit' [‎10r] (9/14)

9
Sii N. O'Conor, in a subsequent inquiiy into the facts, and it was
No
December 2, 1802. considered necessary to make a stroag protest at
the Porte on the subject.
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. ,
July 20, 1905.
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. ,
August 9, 1905.
Koweit Boundary.
In 1902 questions began to arise as to the
extent, geographically speaking, of the Sheikh of
Koweit's authority. At the time of the Agree
ment the limits of Koweit territory had never
been discussed, and considerable uncertainty
prevailed-on the subject. We had obtained a
hold over Koweit, and in this manner could claim
to be consulted as to the terminus of the Bagdad
Railway, but it now began to seem quite possible
that the Company would be able to make
arrangements with the Turks for a dehouche on
the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in territory to which the Sheikh
could make no claim.
A gun-boat was sent in February to report on
several outlying portions of so-called Koweit
territory. Small Turkish posts were found at
Um Kasr on the Khor Abdulla, and on Bubian
Island, to the north of Koweit. Sir N. O'Conor
(telegram No. 30 of the 11th March, 1902) thought
that the Sheikh's claims to these places were
shadowy and unreliable, though we might protest
against Turkish occupation of them as a breach of
the status quo. This was accordingly done, and
a desultory discussion has contimied up to the
present time regarding Bubian Island. A small
Turkish post still remains there, and Sir N.
O'Conor continues to press for its withdrawal. It
is believed that the Turks would withdraw the post
if the British Government consented to abolish
the post of 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. to Koweit, which they
have recently established (see that section of the
present Memorandum), but there is no question
of agreeing to such a "bargain"; the two
matters are to be kept distinct. If the Turks
refuse to remove their post, it has been proposed
by 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. , after a reasonable delay, to
make a counter-move by establishing and main
taining a post on behalf of the Sheikh. Mubarak
has agreed to this course, subject to assurances
of our support, financial and otherwise. Lord
Lansdowne was not of opinion that any imme
diate action was necessary, and recommended that
the question should be referred to the Defence
Committee before further steps were taken.
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