"الملف 73/7 III (D 24) وضع الكويت، والمفاوضات الأنجلو-التركية" [ظ‎‎٤‎٥] (٧٠٩/٩٨)

In making these observations, however, I do not overlook the fact that the view has
been expressed by His Majesty's Foreign Office and concurred in by the India Office that
the Sheikh's claims cannot be sustained so far south as Musalliyah Bay. I do not know
precisely on what evidence or absence of evidence that decision is based, but I realise
that it may not be possible at this stage to consider the inclusion of that feature.
5. The next point after Anta'a mentioned by Captain Shakespear is A1 Safah. In
a country were water is a precious commodity, to be found only at certain spots, often
many miles distant from each other, the inclusion of such wells within the boundaries of
a principality is of the greatest importance, and as these wells appear, from Captain
Shakespear's report, to be used exclusively by the tribes under Sheikh Mobarak's control,
and to have at no time been touched bv Turkish influence, there seems everv eround to
include Safah within the principality. ^
6. We next come to Hafar. The stragetio importance to the Sheikh of Koweit of this
point will be apparent from a glance at the map. It is a half-way house to Buraidah,
Riyadh and Hail, and has a constant supply of water. It is a well known outpost, and
its possession by Sheikh Mobarak and the tribes under his control never seems to have
been seriously questioned. During the troubles that took place in 1901, he used the
place as a rallying point for his forces and claimed it as in his territory and was greatly
incensed with Bin Rashid, who had camped there for a time and consumed the pastures
of bueikh Mobarak s tribes. 1 he latter laid a formal complaint before the resident of
the action of Bin Rashid in a letter dated the 22nd October, 1901, an extract trom which
is quoted in the margin.* 1 he statement regarding Hafar was repeated incidently in a
communication from the Sheikh to the resident dated the 17th November, 1901.
7. From Hafar the boundary line assigned to the Koweit district alike by
Mr. Lorimer and Captain Shakespear is the Batin, a broad low depression in the desert,
in which water can generally be found at no great depth, and which contains excellent
grazing. Beyond it stretches desert, almost uninhabited and quite unfertile. The Batin
is a well known and well marked boundary and a tract of great value to Bedouins.
There seems no reason to think that it hus been inhabited, except spasmodically, by
tribes other than those under the influence of the Sheikh of Koweit.
8. It may be parenthetically remarked here that whereas Mr. Lorimer had to rely
upon the word of the Sheikh for his description of the boundary to the westward, it has
now been personally examined by Major Knox and Captain Shakespear, with the results
mentioned above, which generally speaking tend to confirm the Sheikh's claims.
^ 9. The position of the northern boundary alone has been subjected in the past to
close examination. Captain Shakespear makes the well marked Ar Katq Ridge the
north-western corner of the principality ; the point seems a suitable one for the purpose
and will, I trust, be adopted. Thence it has been held to run through Jabal Sanam,
another prominent point, to the sea immediately south of Umm Kasr.
10. The Sheikh s claims to Safwan are, I think, a good deal stronger than has
generally been thought, and might have been supported with good reason, but it seems
probable that as regards this point we are committed vis-d-vis the Porte to recognise it
as beyond the limits of Koweit; the Sheikh's influence, however, is without doubt
unquestioned up to the walls of the fort at bafwan and this fact should receive recognition
when the boundary is fixed. Mr. J. C. Gaskm in his report of the 6th September^ 1897,
gives Safwan as the northern boundary of the principality and it has always been a
camping ground of his tribes. His Majesty's consul, Bussorah, reported in 1902 that in
his opinion the Turkish Government never thought of exercising authority over either
Safwan or Umm Kasr until recent events. The Sheikhs claim to Safwan is recorded in
a letter to the resident dated the 7th February, 1902, and he further said to the senior
naval oflicer who interrogated him on the subject, that there were eight or ten families
of sedentary Bin Hanedi and Bin Tarki there, who had lived there permanently for 40
years. They paid him no regular tribute, he said, but supplied him from time to time
with grass and onions as a recognition of their subordination to him.]"
11. hen discussing with me a month ago, various newspaper reports suggesting
that the Bagdad Railway was likely to find its terminus at Umm Kasr, under the aegis
of lurkey. Sheikh Mobarak made it evident that he felt strongly on the subject of that
Bin Rasbid is at Hafar, which is distant three days journey from Koweit; our own cattle and those of
our tribesmen are prevented by him from grazing; we have consequently suffered great loss. . . . We, as
directed by you, are quite in our own country and are under the shadow of your protection. It is therefore
necessary that l>iu Kasliid should be made to quit these places, which are in our boundaries."
t • . • . . Regarding iSafwnn, the crops of grain produced there are under my authority and protection.
TJie locality of my tribes is west of it and they go there in summer where there is water. Before now the
Turks or others had not laid their hand on Safwan."