Papers on British policy and the Arab movement [‎171r] (347/380)

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name of your house and of Koweit to the high position which it held in the past
in eyes of British Government and of peoples of Arabia.
“ On the other hand, it is the plain duty of ruler of a State which is on
terms of friendship with Government to prevent all acts, either by his own sub
jects or by other persons in his territory, which may be contrary to interests of
Government; and since they know that, if you wish to do so, you have the power
to control your subjects and others in your territory, Government will be compelled
to hold your Excellency personally responsible should any such act unfortunately
be committed in future. They hope your Excellency will fully realise your
responsibility as the ruler of Koweit towards Government under whose protection
and friendship Koweit has so greatly prospered in the past, and will understand
that prosperity depends entirely on preservation of true friendship, both in word
and deed, with Government.”
This appears to be the most recent statement made on the part of His Majesty s
Government with regard to their relations with Koweit.
(iv.) Treaty with the Sheikh of al-Ka,tar.
Under the Anglo-Turkish Convention of the 29th July, 1913, the lurks renounced
all their pretensions in the Peninsula of al-Katar, which lay east of the line laid down
in the Convention as the eastern boundary of the “ Ottoman Sanjak of Nejd.
This cleared up the situation in the al-Katar country, which had been obscure
since the establishment of a Turkish military post -there in 1872, and on the 15th July,
1914, the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. telegraphed to the Viceroy (33406/1990/14) suggesting that the
time was approaching when a treaty should be concluded with the new Sheikh •' (i.e.,
Abdullah-bin-Jasim-bin-Thani), and asking for definite proposals as soon as possible.
On the outbreak of war between Great Britain and Germany, Sheikh Abdullah-
bin-Jasim was informed thereof officially by the officiating Besident in the Persian
Gulf (66597/1990/14), and returned a satisfactory reply. But in a despatch to the
Government of India, dated the 1st September, 1914, the officiating Resident drew
attention to the fact that Sheikh Abdullah was not effective ruler of the country, and
submitted that, while it was in His Majesty’s Government’s interest to assist him to
become so, the immediate conclusion of a treaty would be premature.
It does not appear whether this despatch reached the Government of India before
theydrafted the telegram of suggestions, dated the 6thSeptember, 1914(61 684/61 439 T4),
which has been referred to several times above, and in which the question of al-Katar
was discussed as follows :—
“ As regards the Sheikh of Katar, it is probable that he could not and would
not evict the Turkish garrison without active support from us, but their ejection in
the event of war would be a simple matter, and if the Sheikh were first informed,
and given an assurance that his position and privileges as ruling Sheikh of Katar
would be thereafter recognised and maintained by us, we should doubtless have his
co-operation in effecting their bloodless expulsion.”
No special letter to Sheikh Abdullah was included among the drafts submitted by
the officiating Resident in the Gulf on the 14th September, 1914, presumably for the
reasons advanced in his despatch of the 1st September, 1914, and in a telegram dated
the 6th October, 1914, to the Government of India (69321/61439/14, No. 3), he dealt
with the point as follows :—
“ Assurance to Sheikh of Katar is the only point about which I am doubtful.
Hitherto I have regarded Sheikh of Katar as a factor to be neglected when interests
of far greater importance are pressing, and my proposal was merely to furnish usual
notification, which has been issued to other Gulf chiefs, to Sheikh Abdullah. Katar
sheikhs, in view of their present internal quarrels, are quite unable to turn out
existing Turkish garrison, which is quite isolated and innocuous. Kindly instruct
me accordingly if you consider that anything further is required.
“ In absence of specific instructions it is clearly understood that I take no
action.”
The officiating Resident’s view appears to have been adopted by the Government
of India, and no special commitments were entered into towards the Sheikh of Katar
* In 1868 a fairly loose agreement on trucial lines had been concluded with the then Sheikh, but His
Majesty’s Government had refused to renew it during the Turkish occupation of the post of al-Bidaa.