'File 5/C Boundary questions: attacks on Ikhwan; dispute between Shaikh Salim and Ibn Sa`ud' [‎70r] (139/230)

' \
To S
Translation of a letter, dated 21st June- 15^0 from Ito Sa^ud to
Shaikh Salim al-l.!ubarak as-Subah, ' - ,
I have received your letter, dated the 12 th ultimo ( 29 th Ivlay
and have understood all that you said therein, especially re^ardin^
the attack made by Pawish on Du*aij and your Arabs v. r ho were with him,
also your remarks about the past and present union between the two
houses of Sa'ucj. and Subah; also that you only left DaWish 'alone, when
you were able to punish him, so as to avoid bloodshed amingst Muslins;
also what you say about restitution, and that you will not hold me
excused should he disobey me.
All that you have stated is true. The sood deed from you is not much,
and it is only right that I should do what you ask. Thank God there
is no one here who can over-rule me, and I am able to. enforce my will
with or without anyone else*s / consent, as the good man knows himselfw
I, your brother, v/ould like,, however, to explain one or two points
regarding which you have written.
. As regards Ijawish’s attack: God knows I did not order him to
attack, nor did I wish-him to, especially in the way he did. I did,
however, know of their gathering and taking defensive measures. But
God ohdained the incident in question,! can not say I am sorry that
it happened, for reasons which I shall now give. As a matter of fact,
I did send men to stop them, but the affair had already taken place.
I call God to witness that, from the time I left Kuwait till this
moment,.! have always wished well of the people of Kuwait, from the
Gubah family itself down to the meanest of the inhabitants, ad is
known to both God and aan. As regards the relations between the Subah
and S’a*ud families, I can only say in the words of the poet:-
,s If affairs be in the hands of the wise, only good will
result; if they be in the hands of the wicked, then evil
consequences will be brought on all.
This is very true indeed, 0 son of Mubarak, One would never have
dreamed that that friction could possibly air is e between the Sa*ud
and Subah families, and I can not now understand why it should.' Think
yourself what have been and are the causes of this friction, or ask
people of understanding who are with you and they will tell you. As
to your statement that you left Dav/ish alone for my sake, it was a
good thought of yours, as God forbid that the' day ever come when you
and I measure our strength together.
You know .that when facts are concealed, and the truth is not •
known disagreements are sure to arise, so both sides must disclose,
all the facts* As regards the events which have* occurred, God know::
I hadno knowledge of br part ip them, nor do I know any outward or 1
inward cause for them other than yourself. Ever since you became
Ruler of Kuwait, I do not remember a single month passing in which
you have not worried me in some way, and that without any cause. I
h ,ve tried to disbelieve reports which are commonly talked about,
and^ have absolutely disregarded more obscure rumours. Since the month
of Aajab five specific incidents have taken place, which could only
appear to be the work of a mischief maker, but you .are not that, of"
course; 0 no, you are a very wise,man and on-, of great knowledge! You
do evil because you like* ^.t, and you seek it for its own. sake.
.(I; You sent a-mounted force to threaten the neoole at Jrriyah
-• . without first warning me. ‘ \ a '
(2) .Then Kafisi came here, you‘merely sent me a verbal message by him
-* • anci nad not the* -hr* r i t •
< (3)
ding at
; ~ ^ inscigation, and you sent me no letter or m cssa k*
K( k ou t ss ? ed an °^ der in Kuwait prohibiting exports to my ports. *
You declared war on the Mutair, \
:ie kear what you have to say about these five ooAnts.
~ tue or iocs and people affected had been no one's children
mien, ox course, you could have dealt with,them; but they are my
cnildren, and I, yoUr brother, am their ruler, and yet you did not
+£ rc ‘ L ?i\ to r;1 ®- as their chief. You are certainly not a man to treat
v...s....* .> 1 ...i goou ?o .icy, nor are you one who could say that vqu d’d ^ t
lor^fnendshi^ s sake, and whom I could thank for doing it. The reason
ui|e 1 lo f t k7aG that uy subjects have bee troubled with doubts, and '
onerc are tnre^ kinds of them : ( 1 ) those who-are afraid. ( 2 ) those
wno are the guardians of their religcon and their country,- and ( 3 )
tao "; e ,7ao , llate eval : 1 myself have b:ien sdrt-ly puzzled as to the
cause of tnese affairs as there appears to be no r-.a
T 1
u:icm^r-. v .s kie;? nothing until Du'aij.' appeared against N the ;
anu tney naturally believed the ru.lours which the- ha' hea-
son. Tnc people
t Ha idh
u heard before.