'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎44r] (92/228)

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on Maklab Isthmus and Sheep Island hy the
cable steamer “ Patrick Stewart” on the 18th
idem.
11. Koweit and Nejd.—On 23rd Sep
tember, Major Cox reported that Sheikh Mu
barak was willing to grant a site for the pro-
posed Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. buildings ;. but in the absence
ot Captain Knox, no decision could be come to
(vide paragraph 27 of the Memorandum for
July 1905).
12. Major Cox telegraphed (2nd October)
that he had received a telegram from the Consul
at Basrah to the effect that the Vali of Basrah
had arranged privately with Sheikh Mubarak
for the carriage of the Turkish post overland
to Hassa through Koweit, and that the Sheikh
had consented to the location of a Turkish
postal official at Koweit. The Senior Naval
Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. was despatched to
Koweit to investigate the matter, and reported
that Sheikh Mubarak denied that he had any
intention of permitting a Turkish official to
be placed at Koweit.
13. The Political Besident in the Persian
Gulf telegraphed on 8th October that he had
learnt that the instructions for the better
treatment of Koweitis, which the Mushir-ed-
Dowleh had promised to send to Bush ire, had
not been issued, and that he had asked Sir
A. Hardinge to expedite their despatch (vide
paragraph 25 of the Memorandum for Julv
1905). J
14. On the 3rd October, the Secretary of
State telegraphed that Captain Knox should
he instructed to return at once to Koweit, and
that his attention should be drawn to the
decision of His Majesty’s Government to leave
the matter of the removal of the Turkish post
on Bubiyan Island to the consideration of Sir
N. O’Conor (vide paragraph 13 of Memoran
dum for August 1904). Major Cox has been
instructed accordingly.
15. The Political Besident in Turkish
Arabia in his diary for the week ending the
25th September mentions that one Abdul
Hamid Effendi, giving himself out as a former
agent of Sheikh Mubarak, had enquired whether
the Sheikh was under British protection, and,
if so, what Court had jurisdiction over him.
His ostensible object was the recovery of
money that the Sheikh owed him, but Colonel
Newmarch felt persuaded that he was really
a spy and evaded any direct reply.
16. Bahrein .—On 28th September, Major
Cox forwarded a report from the Political
Agent at Bahrein on the question of the excess
duty levied by the Katif Customs farmers on
dates shipped by British Indian traders, stating
that, in the absence of the principal witness,