'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎48r] (100/228)

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and from thence
to Ujeir by buggalow Large trading vessel. i 3 now Ullder the
consideration of the Wall of Basrah, and Consul
Crow hopes that, as the latter arrangement
will probably cost less, it may prove more
attractive and deter the Wall from making
the land service permanent. The Secretary of
State telegraphed on the 29th November that
the Foreign Office desire the survey of the
approaches of Ojeir to be deferred.
19. (See paragraph 11 of Memorandum
for October.) The preparation of plans and
estimates for the construction of a new agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent.
building, at Koweit is being proceeded with,
but Major Cox’s and Captain Knox’s recom
mendation, that the construction of the
building should be deferred until affairs in
Koweit are more settled, is under consideration.
20. It is reported that I bn Saood visited
Katar during the hot weather, and that he
proposes to visit the Arab coast and Oman in
the next spring. The Chief of Abu Dhabi
visited Maskat to confer with the Sultan on
the subject, and it is said that the latter is
much agitated for fear that the possible
appearance of the Amir anywhere on the
shores of Oman would be the signal for all the
Ghaferi tribes to rise against him. The Gov
ernment of India consider it desirable that the
Amir should be prevented from carrying out
his purpose. 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. at Koweit
has, therefore, been authorised to make
enquiries of Sheikh Mubarak as to the facts
relative to Ibn Saood’s intended visit.
21. Bahrein. —(See paragraph 23 of
Memorandum for September.) The Secretary
of State in his despatch, dated the 10th Novem
ber 1905, has expressed the opinion that the
time has not yet arrived for defining in
strict terms the position of the Sheikh towards
the protecting British Power, and that, in the
present circumstances, the activity of the
political authorities in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. should
be confined to the direction and control of the
Sheikh’s external affairs, and to steadily and
unobtrusively increasing their influence and the
confidence of the Sheikh in their advice and
power. The question of the management of
the Customs is to be considered on receipt of
the views of Major Cox.
22. In regard to the status of natives of
Bahrein in Persia, His Majesty’s Minister at
Tehran addressed a note to the Mushir-ed-
Dowleh on the 22nd August 1905, suggesting
that some practical modus vivendi might be
found for terminating the existing deadlock
arising from the obsolete claims of the
Persian Government to suzerainty over that
island preventing the Bahreinis obtaining
any justice or redress either through the
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire or the Legation at