'File II. IRAQ (3) Vol. 1 Shaikh of Kuwait's Date Gardens on the Shatt-al Arab. (Kuwait's relations with Turkish Govt. and Turkish demand that Kuwaitis should take out Turkish Nationality Certificates)' [‎245r] (507/636)

[ Confidential]
No. 3186, dated Bushire, the 3rd (received 13th) December 1910 (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel P. Z. Cox, C.S.I., C.I.E., 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
Calcutta.
Government of India in the Foreign Department,
Thinking that it may be of interest, I have the honour to attach a trans
lation of an extract from a book published
»The Book of Midhat Paaha” by Ali Hyder bin j n Turkish OU the life of Midhat
Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , bearing on the question of the
status of Kuwait from a Turkish standpoint.
The book, of which I give the name in the margin, was lent by the late
Vali of Basrah to Shaikh Mubarak for perusal at the time when they were
on friendly terms, and the latter had it with him during my last visit to
Kuwait and had an extract made of this passage, to which he had alluded in
conversation with 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. and myself.
u
Memorandum on the dependence of the village of Kuwait on the High (Turkish)
Government and its annexation to the Province of Basrah.
The village of Kuwait is situated on the coast of a part of Nejd and is
70 miles distant from Basrah by sea, consisting of 500 houses. All its
inhabitants are Musalmans and w^ere not connected with any party. When
the former Vali, Nameq Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , intended taking measures in the direction
of their protection and annexation to the Province of Basrah, he made it
a rule not to subject the inhabitants to any inconveniences, and separated
their administration (from others) ; and when he saw that they would pay no
tax and customs duty, he left them in their original state.
They are originally from Hejaz and came to this place five hundred years
ago being accompanied by a section of the Mutheir. Prom their family was
Subah the First who founded Kuwait and collected people there until the
place was brought to its present state. Their present Shaikh and Headman,
Abdullah-es-Subah, is of that descent.
All the said inhabitants profess the Shafai religion and the principles of
their administration are based on the precepts of the Shera. Their Alem (priests)
Kazis (Judges) Muftis (superior Judges) Governors and Teachers are all chosen
from amongst themselves, and, as their status has proved advantageous to
them since that time, they have continued to remain as an independent
community, carrying out their orders by themselves.
They have no places for cultivation and their business is confined to
maritime trade, and they are familiar with diving operations in the Bahrain
and Oman waters. Their boats—both large and small—exceed 2,000, and
most of their large vessels make voyages to India and Zanzibar being engaged
in maritime trade. This commuuity adopted a peculiar flag for its boats,
which in a short time went abroad under that colour for commercial purposes.
Some time after they did not feel secure against foreign highhandedness; and
in order to ensure tbe safety of their voyages and travels, some of them used
the English Flag, while some others flew the Flemish (Dutch) colours, as they
felt constrained to hoist those flags. In these circumstances they took
measures to associate with and preferred cases for foreign protection, and they
were the first who asked for it. Whereas this practice imperilled the Province
of Baghdad and whereas great dangers threatened the position of Basrah in
particular, Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who was at Basrah, perceiving those dangers,
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