"الملف E9 بعثة فيلبي إلى ابن سعود" [و‎‎٩‎٥] (٢٤٢/١٨٩)

Telegram.R, COMITIDENTIAL .
Prom. Political, Bagdad,
To. Political, Bahrein.
Eo. 4641/29th
Dated. 29th May 1918.
Received. 30th May 1918.
Please inform Philby as follows, begins;— "Pirstly Koweit
Blockade, continuous evidence^ had reached us from Egypt
O
other you shall not sources that large supplies fromKoweit
reach enemy destinations. Sir Percy Cox urged as early as
Eecember that troops should be stationed at Koweit for
blockade purposes as Sheikh ££ unable or unwilling to pre
vent traffic. In February Sheikh agreed after considerable
pressure to sending of two British Officers,four British
ranks to contcol posts to Interior, Sheikh complains of
injury to his prestige, P.A. reported that early in April
that demands for goods from Koweit steadily increasing.
In first quarter of 1918 it equalled whole of 1917. Many
caravans in Koweit and others expected too numerous for
Sheikh to control. Stocks in Koweit inordinately large.
He pressed for British Regiment after arrival of which
surplus stocks should be bought by Basrah merchant financed
byGovernment. Caravans in Koweit were turned away under
circumstances which you now have full information of from
P.A. Many proceeded to Hasa where imports from Bahrein are
abnormal. Sheikh of Bahrein has been warned: also Mail
agents in all Gulf Ports privately warned to carry only
limited quantities to Koweit, but neither Government of
India nor Cocjmander-in-Chief Mesopotamia prepared to send
battalion to Koweit. Improbable that measures taken will
greatly hinder traffic, Dhows and Japanese ships bring in
goods and though ^Government has already purchased 211acs
stocks will purchase more this action willnot sufficiently
as
deplete them. Before receiving your information to effect
produced in Najd I had asked Foreign to allow blockade to
fall into abeyance on ground of its inefficacy
and fear of quenching our relations with Sheikh of Koweit
and I,S, and of relations with two last named with each