Miscellaneous Correspondence, Notes, and Newspaper Cuttings Relating to Persia [‎117r] (237/255)

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No. 56, dated Bushire, the 11 th March 1901 (Confidential).
From— Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Kemball, Officiating Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the
Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
Although I have received no recent news which can he considered to be
absolutely reliable, regarding the progress of the struggle between Sheikh
Mubarek of Koweit and the Emir of Nejd, I have received information from
His Britannic Majesty’s Vice-Consul at Mohammerah, which, if it is true, is of
considerable importance.
Sheikh Selman, the cousin and Deputy of the Sheikh of Mohammerah, has
informed Mr. McDouall that he has heard from Sheikh Jaber, a brother of
Sheikh Mubarek, that Nejd has welcomed Mubarek and Ibn Saud, and that
the tribes of Aneyza, Boreyda and Zulfi have sent in their submission, and
that Sheikhs inimical to Ibn Bashid have been appointed to these tribes by
Mubarek.
Kazim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , who is the brother of a wife of the Sultan, but who is not
allowed to reside at Constantinople, is said to have gone with about 400 horse
men on a mission to the Emir of Nejd from the Sultan. Sheikh Selman is
afraid that Kazim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. may compel the Wali of Basrah to order Mubarek
to evacuate Nejd, and that if, as is not improbable, Mubarek refuses, the
Turks might attack Koweit.
It is impossible to judge if the information is trustworthy, but it is well
known that the Sheikhs of Koweit and Mohammerah are*on very friendly
terms and that Sheikh Khazal’s sympathies are entirely on Sheikh Mubarek’s
side in the present quarrel. It seems to me, therefore, that news which reaches
Mohammerah from Koweit is deserving of some credit, and I have thought the
information sufficiently important to be communicated to you. Mr. McDouall
says that Sheikh Selman seems to think that Mubarek is in a fair way to be
come the ruler of Central Arabia with Ibn Saud as his Lieutenant.
2. His Britannic Majesty’s Consul at Basrah has informed me that he
has received a telegram from Sir Nicholas O’Connor, the purport of which is
that the Consul at Damascus reports that some squadrons of cavalry are leav
ing to assist the Emir of Nejd who is hard pressed. Mr. Wratislaw suggests
that this may really mean that the Turks, profiting by Ibn Bashid’s difficulties,
intend to re-occupy El-Jauf. It certainly seems curious that the Turks should'
be sending troops from Damascus with the Nejd country as their objective.
No. 60, dated Bushire, the 16th March 1901 (Confidential).
From—The Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ,
To—The Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
In continuation of this office No. 56, dated 11th instant, I have the
honour to forward the accompanyin
* 1. Report, dated tbe 19th February 1901.
translations of three reports* which have
been received from our Koweit news
agent regarding Sheikh Mubarek’s proceedings.
2. A letter received by the Chief of Bahrein from Abdul Bahman-bin-
Eeysal-el-Saud corroborates the report about the occupation of Biadh by Sheikh
Mubarek.
Translation of a report from 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. News Agent at Koweit, dated the 19th February
1901.
Sheikh Mubarek with all the tribes of Abdul Bahman-bin-Eeysal arrived
on 12th Eebruary at a place one day distant from Nejd, and has encamped
there. The next day the Chiefs of the Aneiza and Kascem tribes came to see