"ملف 73/7 IV (D 25) المفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [ظ‎‎٣‎٥] (١٠٣/٨٠)

I trust you will inform the British Government that I recognise and admit the
force of your explanations that myi nterests and those of the British Government are
identical, and that there is no difference between them ; and accordingly it is incumbent
on me to rely upon the advice of the Great Government in this matter; but they will,
I am sure, understand that when any doubt enters my mind, and I see in any measure
a probable source of difficulty and danger to my own interests or those of Government,
it is proper for me to communicate my apprehensions for their august views. But in
view of your explanations and letter under reply, I can but bow to their view and
authorise your Honour to say that I shall rely on the Great Government to support me
so lono; as I am firm in faithful fulfilment of my engagements with them as in the past.
Please God, I shall preserve those obligations and increase my intimate attachment
to the Great Government, and shall act up to what is written in our treaties, and even
more than that.
I would only represent to you that among the stipulations in our treaties, and in
the agreement regarding the lease of land at Bandar Shweikh, my " sons " are specified
as mv successors, while now, in the condition as arranged between the two Governments,
the word "khalaf" appears. Now " khalaf" {" successors ") includes sons and others.
Again, in our treaties I am described as not agreeing to the presence in Koweit of the
subjects of any foreign Government, especially the Turkish Government.
These are two points in our treaties, and further, in the documentary agreement
between yourselves and me in regard to the lease of land at Shweikh, 1 stipulated that
the right of levying customs duty on your subjects and others belonged to me, and on
this understanding the agreement) was reached, and I have the deed and you also have
a duplicate.
I have explained to you these three points; please give them your high conside
ration. And whatever was included in the treaty was with the concurrence of both
parties, and the agreement regarding the lease of land at Shweikh was also concluded
with the concurrence of both parties. I beg to refer this to your Honour's consideration
and attention, and the decision rests with you.
(Sealed) MUBARAK-BIN-SUBAH.
Enclosure 6 in No. 1.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir F. Cox to the Sheikh of Koweit.
(Translation.)
(After compliments.) Mohammerah, July 7, 1913.
I PIAVE duly received your esteemed letter dated 2Dd Shaaban, 1331 (7th July,
1913), and understood its contents. I am highly obliged for your compliance with the
views of the British Government.
Your honour drew attention (in the same communication) to certain items contained
in the treaties and engagements existing between the British Government and
yourself. Your friend has not got the text of them here in Mohammerah, except the
translation of the agreement executed between yourself and Colonel Meade, Resident
in the Persian Gulf, on the 23rd January, 1899. The purport of that instrument is that
your Honour would not receive an agent from any foreign Government without previous
reference to, and the concurrence of, the British Government. In the course of
the present negotiation it was necessary for the British Government to acquiesce
in the appointment of an agent of the Turkish Government at Koweit as the price of
the recognition of the administrative autonomy of your Government, and in return for
the other advantages accruing to your Excellency, as set forth in the document in
question.
Secondly, with reference to the use of the word " successor " (" khalaf") instead of
the word " sons " (" aolad ") therein. There was no motive behind this. For you are aware
that, as stipulated in the convention, the Turkish Government specifically refrains from
concerning itself with this question, and agrees not to interfere in connection there
with. Consequently, in my opinion, everything that is recorded in this regard in
the agreements between the British Government and yourself holds good and is not
altered.
But as I have not got the documents with me, I will, on arrival at Bushire, after
careful examination, write to your honour in confirmation of above, and if I see any
point that arouses doubt, I will refer to Government.