File 1855/1904 Pt 6 'Koweit:- Status of Koweitis in Persia.' [‎270r] (49/154)

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Telegram from Foreign with Viceroy, dated
the 1st December 1904.
Foreign Department endorsement No. 4209-
E.B., dated the 15th December 1904.
Foreign Department endorsement No. 115-
E.B., dated the 9th January 1904.
No. 1], dated Bushire, the 14th January 1905.
From— -Major P. Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating 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 Secretary to the Government of India in the Foreign Department.
In continuation of this office telegram, dated 22 nd September, and with
reference to the communications from the
Foreign Department detailed in the
margin, I have the honour to submit
details of those cases of interference by
Belgian Customs officials with Koweit
subjects or property, which are up to
now unsettled or may he regarded as still being a source of irritation at Koweit.
2 . I am as yet unable to report further regarding the incident which
recently took place at Fao, in which the Agent for the care of Sheikh
Mubarek’s property there was involved, as His Britannic Majesty’s Consul has
not been.able to conclude the further investigation and report which I am
expecting from him. The 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. at Koweit has at the same time
been away in camp in co-operation with Mr. J. G. Lorimer, so that he has not
been available for obtaining further information.
3. I now append separate precis of the detailed facts of six cases numbered
respectively (a), (b), (c), (d), if), and (#). The first four of these havey.
already been briefly dealt with in paragraph 2 of despatch No. 230, dated 8 th ! : "
December, from the Government of India, to the Secretary of State for India,
of which a copy was forwarded to me under Foreign Department endorsement
No. 42C9-E.B.
I will briefly comment on the items in detail:— ^
(a) This case was mentioned to Government incidentally in this office
letter No! L 203 of 2 nd July 1904, and remains in statu quo, the
Customs having refused to refund the fine imposed.
In reference to it Sheikh Mubarek addressed me a long complaint, in the
course of which he wrote:—
“ We cannot endure this treatment, and your sense of what is right will
surely not permit that those who are under your protection shall
suffer in this way. If you afford us relief you will do us honour,
and for such actions your great Government is noted. If you
neglect to do so and if this tyranny is not put a stop to, then we
must seek some other state of things which will relieve us of it.
At present all my subjects who travel for trade are in a state of
terror.”
I had to inform the Sheikh on 6 th July that the Customs had refused to
comply with my representations and that I was still not unmindful of the
matter, but had had to report it to the Government of India for orders.
(ft) This case was only just alluded to in paragraph 3 of my letter
No. 203 before mentioned, and was reported to he £< still under
correspondence.” Its further developments have been most
unsatisfactory and have resulted in much hardship to the
Nakhoda of the dhow A term adopted by British officials to refer to local sailing vessels in the western Indian Ocean. in question, who appears to deserve
substantial compensation both for the loss of his goods and
for the harassing protraction of his case over a period of six
months.
(c) Requires no special comment here, as the Government of India have
already expressed their opinion on it, and there has since been no
further development.
4087 F.D.
A
I