"تقرير الإدارة عن المقيمية السياسية في الخليج الفارسي للأعوام ١٩١٥-١٩١٩" [ظ‎‎٣‎٢] (٣٩٦/٧١)

54 persian gulf administration report
the property of certain inhabitants of Shaqra in Nejd, and their Chief, Ibn
Hashid, sent an impertinent refusal to the usual polite request from Sir
Mubarak for the return of the animals, intimating plainly his devotion to
Turkish interests and recognition of Sir Mubarak as an enemy on account of
his loyalty to His Majesty's Government.
Shaikh Sir Mubarak bin Subah died somewhat suddenly at about 8-15
ri ^ . p.m . on 28th November from heart fail-
JJeatn or Sir MubaraK Bin Subah and succes- * 1.4. i i • j?
eion of shaikh Jabir. ur e lollowmg an attack ot malaria from
which he had been suffering for some
days. His eldest son and heir-apparent, Shaikh Jabir, lost no time in taking
up the reins of Government. He sealed all boxes and account books that same
evening, and sent a confidential messenger to the Political Agent promising
to be even more devoted to British interests than his father had been and
asking for the support and protection of His Majesty's Government. On the
following day he held the reception, usual in such cases, which was attended
by Sir Khaz'al Khan, Shaikh of Mohammerah, who happened to be in Euwait
at the time, all the principal residents of the town, and the Political Agent
who thus publicly recognised the new ruler.
Shaikh Salim bin Mubarak, who is younger than Jabir by a year or two
only and was generally supposed to have some idea of making a bid for the
succession, was absent from Kuwait at the time of his father's death; and
Shaikh Jabir had time to consolidate his position before his brother's return.
Salim arrived at Kuwait on the 7th December, and has since come to an
amicable arrangement with his brother whereby he recognises him as Shaikh.
Shaikh Salim continues to be in charge of the Kuwait Bedouin tribes as he
was during his father's lifetime.
^ It would be difficult to speak too highly in praise of the late Sir Mubarak's
devotion to the interests oi His Majesty's Government even taking into
consideration the very different treatment which he experienced from them
er y ears trouble from Turkish trickery and intrigue; and his loyalty
was recogmsed by a kind message of sympathy and regret sent to his familv
. ^ -i 8 ^ xcellenc y ^ ie Viceroy and the Government of India. This elicited
a suitable reply from the new Shaikh in which he repeated his determination
to follow m his father's footsteps.
Owing to the war no tours in the interior were made by the Political
Movements of the Political Agent. Agent during t he year. He visited
«irmc i n + T , . Basrah and Mohammerah on four occa
sions, and, m October, made a trip to Qatar on special duty.
The Political Eesident visited Kuwait in Pebruarv. H. M.'s shins
^urin^iois iTor ^ rook J " " Dalhousie," and " Lawrence " shewed the flag
C ^ G ' Grey was Political A g eil t and Assistant Surgeon
C, G. Kelly was Agency Surgeon throughout the year.
W. G. GREY, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Political Agent, Kuwait,