'SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS AND MEASURES OF THE VICEROYALTY OF HIS EXCELLENCY LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON, VICEROY AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA IN THE FOREIGN DEPARTMENT. I. JANUARY 1899-APRIL 1904. II. DECEMBER 1904-NOVEMBER 1905. VOLUME IV. PERSIA AND THE PERSIAN GULF.' [‎149v] (303/386)

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(3) To ensure that Sheikh Ilamed, whom the Government of India had
agreed to recognise as the Sheikh’s heir, should not succeed to a
State in an embarrassed or impecunious condition, though
he hoped that the date of his succession would be long
deferred.
The Sheikli was very obstinate, but could not when pressed offer any
reason against the reform, which, as Hi* Excellency pointed out, had been most
successful in Maskat, where the Saltan who had originally resented its
introduction had recently thanked His Excellency for having induced him to
adopt it.
The Sheikh then tried to get the matter postponed during his lifetime, but
His Excellency pointed out that he was only 57 and his uncle and predecessor
Sheikh Mohammed had lived to be over 80.
Eventually the Sheikh said that he would wish to consider the subject with
his sons and brother. His Excellency agreed that this was a very proper course,
but warned the Sheikh that he must understand clearly that the matter could
not be dropped, and that Colonel Kemball would be instructed to report after
consulting the Sheikh what course he would recommend to secure the execu
tion of the reform. The Sheikh could not enjoy all the advantages of the
British Protectorate, to which he owe! his position and security without dis
charging the obligations which it involved.
The Sheikh produced the old treaties to show that he understood his
position.
The interview which had lasted for over half an hour then closed and the
Sheikh withdrew.
At the formal interview on the previous day the Sheikh had kept on his
sandals though the remainder of his party removed theirs. He was very ner
vous at meeting His Excellency for the first time, which may have accounted
for his omission to observe this mark of respect. At the private interview abovo
recorded he had removed his sandals.
L. W. Dane,— 27-11-03.
Correct as amended.
C[uhzon], —27-11-03.
Enclosure IX to 15,
PRIVATE INTERVIEW BETWEEN IllS EXCELLENCY TI1E VICEROY AND SlIEIKn
Mubarak al Sabah at Koweit on the R.M.I S. Hardinge on 29th
November 1903.
His Excellency asked the Sheikh if he had any observations that he desired
to make. The Sheikh replied that he had given up his connection with the
Turks and had come under rhe British Protectorate; he had further refused
the advances that had been made to him by the French and Russians ; he hoped
therefore that lie might receive some title or decoration and an allowance. He
had a Turkish decoration which, however, he did not now wear and a firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’).
appointing him to bo a Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. with the title Mir Miran and sanctioning an
annual grant to him of 100 tons of dates. For the past four years he had not
drawn or received this allowance and his expenses were great. His Excellency
enquired what his revenue was. The Sheikh replied that he derived most of
his revenue from his date groves in the Basrah jurisdiction. His gross revenuo
had been about Its, 4,00,000 from this source, but by the assignment of lands
to his nephews under the recent settlement his revenue under this head would
be reduced. He paid £ T. 2,000 annually to the Turks and his net income
was now r about 2 J lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees a year.
lie only obtained about Rs. 40,000 a year from bis customs and perhaps
Pcs. 20,000 from the poll taxon the tribesmen under him. He estimated the
number of the latter as 80,000 including 35,000 in the town of Koweit, but
he received very little from them and had to pay heavily to some of their
number.