File 2764/1904 Pt 4 'Baghdad Railway: Anglo-Turkish negotiations; proposals of Turkish Govt; status of Kowait' [‎103v] (211/674)

Oieir in the district of El Katif. South of this point there is no trace of Turkish
power ever having been paramount; in 1870 the Ottoman Minister for Foreign
Affairs conveyed to Her Majesty’s Ambassador formal assurances that the Sublime
Porte did not'entertain any intention of obtaining supremacy over Bahrein, Muscat
or the independent tribes on the coast of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ; and it is on y since that C
date that certain attempts have been made by the Ottoman Government to establish
mudirates and other emblems of Turkish authority at points to the south of Ojeir
The position of His Majesty’s Government in regard to _ these^ tribes has been
entirely different. With Bahrein they have had direct relations since is 5; these
relations have found concrete expression in a series ot treaties dating irom 1820, and
having as their objects the suppression of piracy and the slave trade; the regularity
of the succession to the throne; the protection of the island against foreign aggression ;
and the safety of the pearl industry, of which Bahrein is the centre. In Muscat
and the territories of the Trucial chiefs His Majesty’s Government have, in virtue
of various treaties and agreements, conferred similar benefits for many years; and
their policv in ^aeh ease has been inspired by the importance of upholding tie
maritime peace, of securing open markets to the commerce of aJl countries, and ot
protecting the long-established interests ol British-Indian subjects.
His Maiestv’s Government cannot acquiesce in any arrangement u liicli might
restrict or undermine the authority which they have exercised uninterruptedly
With such beneficent results; they conceive that any extension of lurkish jurisdiction
along the littoral of the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the south of Ojeir would be prejudicial to
those results and unsupported by any legitimate claims of Turkish sovereignty; and
they have accordinglv resisted anv attempts which have been made lo encioacii upon
these regions. They are therefore of opinion that any lasting settlement between
the two Powers must provide for the definite renunciation by the Ottoman Govern-
ment of Bahrein and adjacent islands and the whole of the peninsula of HI Katr
(including El Bidaa), where the Sheikh of Bahrein has important rights ; and they
consider that such a settlement would finally remove a perennial source of local
friction. . „
The Ottoman Government express a wish to regularise the relations ot Jxoweit
towards the Ottoman Empire, and His Majesty’s Government will gladly contribute
to such a solution, on the understanding that their rights and claims are not to be
regarded as prejudiced by any proposals which may now be put forward, should such
proposals prove abortive.
As the Ottoman Government are aware, His Majesty’s Government hawe never
admitted that Koweit is under Turkish protection, and, inasmuch as some divergence
of opinion was manifested between the two Governments as to the position there, a
modus vivenni was reached- in September 1901 by His Majesty s Government con
senting to give an assurance that, provided the Turkish Government abstained from
sending troops to Koweit and respected the status quo there, they would^ occupy not
that place or establish a British protectorate over it.
British trade relations with the Sheikhs of Koweit have existed for upwards of two
centuries, and, inasmuch as the place has attracted merchants from all quarters by the
equity of its rule and the freedom of its trade, His Majesty’s Government could not
consent to any interference with the succession^or with the internal administration,
or any infringement of the complete autonomy of the sheikh. On the other hand,
they are prepared to recognise Turkish suzerainty over Koweit, and to recognise the
sheikh as a Turkish kaimakam, provided in other respects the status quo is guaranteed,
and the validity of certain agreements which the sheikh has concluded with the
British Government is recognised; provided the islands of Warba and Bubian are
admitted by Turkey to he within the confines of Koweit, and Turkish military posts
are withdrawn ; and provided finally the sheikh is admitted to the lull and undisturbed
enjoyment of any properties he may own or hereafter purchase on Turkish territory.
Koweit would thus form a sort of enclave within, and forming part of, the Ottoman
Empire, hut enjoying complete self-government under Turkish suzerainty.
Certain difficulties have recently arisen in regard to the buoyage of the Shatt-el-
Arab. Eor a great number of years British shipping has, owing to its volume,
been predominantly, and until recently almost exclusively, interested in these aids
to navigation. For over fifty years the work of surveying, buoying, and lighting
the river has been carried out by British agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. to the general satisfaction of all
concerned.
In these circumstances, His Majesty’s Government have some difficulty in
appreciating why the Ottoman Government have taken exception to existing and