'PAPERS RELATING TO THE MESOPOTAMIAN COMMISSION from SIR E. BARROW'S ROOM' [‎447r] (904/1386)

/ To secure these results I Wd offer the following ^ements in
addition to assurance that Basrah would never again be subjected to luikisl
To the Sheikh of Koweit we
immunitv from taxation for lus date-gardens on lurkish bank between
-.uid Gurua • immunity from the consequences of ejecting the present sma
Turkish miiitaTposts 7 from Safwan Umm Kasr and Bub.an and thereafter
recognition of'independence of principality of Koweit under British pro-
tection. si ;kh f Mohammerah we should give the assurance already
sanctioned in connection with the recent grant of decoration; undertake
to maintain him in secure and untaxed possession of his date gaidens o
TuS side of river, and perhaps a promise to do our best ms-a-v,,
'"‘To S,n of the Turks
enter into treaty relations with him as -independent ruler of -\ejd and Hassa,
-* 1 KSsssaSJ5arss , »-<t *•'»
tint pvirt the Turkisli garrison without active support from us but the
.ection in the “ of war would be a simple matter, and if Sheikh were
hrst informed and given an assurance that his position and P rlv l ®8® a ^
r aitmlrli of Katar would he thereafter recognised and maintained y
his co-operation in effecting their bloodless
\s regards Western Arabia, Resident at Aden believes both the Imam
and the Idrisi to be well-disposed to us and considers that oy judicious
overtures and «rants of money or arms it would he possible to unite tliem
aoninst^the Turks. He adds that he is in -a position to start overtures
through reliable media. It is also probable that we could influence ...o
Sharif of Mecca in the same direction through the meuiuni of Bi •
Ports of Red Sea used by Imam and Idrisi might he exempted from hostile
action as far as practically possible. . i i i cn u n Qokl
We should on the outbreak of war at once seize and hold Sheikh t.ai .
opposite Perim and Fao telegraph office. As you are aware the religion of
the tribes of Central Arabia is bunni.bvhTe chiel tube of the a •>
and about a moiety of the population oT Basrah is Shiah. Apart from any
question of Jehad we do not think that the Mohammedan community in India
of either persuasion would be much concerned at mere recrudescence of
rebellion by the Arabs of Arabia against the Turk It may be presumed
that educated classes would view such disaffection with regret, hut I dou
whether there would be active resentment. Action from Egypt against the
Hedjaz railway of course suggests itself, but that quarter seems to be beyonl
SC0 T haPalready thought of best means 'of influencing leading Moham
medan chiefs in India in the event of Turkey making a general appeal
to Moslems, and I will at once prepare the ground on the lines of your
private telegram of 2nd September.
f447l;