"الملف 73/7 III (D 24) وضع الكويت، والمفاوضات الأنجلو-التركية" [و‎‎٨‎٨] (٧٠٩/١٨٦)

^ C.A "Vwu, 2^
(Received on the 21st April 1913 with Political Secretary's letter No. U, dated the 4th April
1913.)
India Office, Whitehall,
London, S. W.;
p - UQQ ' 31st March 1913.
Sir,
T am directed by the Secretary of State for India to acknowledo-e the
roeeipt of yoiir letter No. 12978, dated the 27th March, forwarding a"draft
agreement with the Turkish Government re^ardin? the status of Kuwait.
The Marquess of Crewe understands that His Majesty 's Government will
still endeavour to obtain Turkish rrcognirion of the limits of Kuwait defined in
the British Memorandum, dated 17th (18th ?) Jnlv 1912, and that only if thi a
proves impracticable will the concession embodied in the present draft be made.
I am to offer the following remarks on the test of the draft: —
Prearnhle.—ms Lordship would prefer that the words « and the adjacent
territory " should be omitted, as emphasising unnecessarilv and in a way that
may arouse the suspicions of the Shaikh, the distinction between the two areas
which is sufficiently clearly drawn in the body of the agreement.
. Clause S. Ois Lordship attaches great importance to the reference to
^oreign relations, and trusts that, though it may be difficult for the Turkish
Government to accept it, it will be insisted on.'
* ^ He ■would prefer to say "articles 1 to 4", thus limiting the
Turkish agent to the narrower area, and lassening the opportunities for intrigue.
His Lordship thinks that it might also be desirable to add to the list of
islands what is shown on the map as Makta island, although, according to
the Gazetteer, no channel exists between it and the mainland.
Clause 7.— For ^Hafan" read "Hafar". Lord Crewe notes that the
map attached to Foreign OfTice Print, Asiatic Turkey, Section 1, February
27, is not quite accurate, in that the green line does not clearly include Wabrah
and Al Garaa. The Shaikh is known to be very anxious to retain Anta'a
( Nta), and His Lordship trusts that this may be secured in return for the con-
cpssions made in the earlier part of the agreement, and in view of the fact that
His Majesty's Government are not supporting the wider claims whieh, as will
be seen from the enclosed copy of a telegram from Sir P. Cox, the Shaikh has
Dated 26th March 1913, himself made to the Turkish Government.
. As the Shaikh expressly claims Um Kasr.
it might be advisable to make it clear that His Majesty's Government do not
support him by substituting forts at Um Kasr and Safwan" for "fort at
Safwan " in the third line of this clause.
The last two lines of the clause are repeated from clause 6, and seem
superfluous.
tf\f\J^^ a ' USe ^ uri ^ e i*stood that a reference to the lease agreement of
±907 will be embodied in this clause or else that the Turkish Government will
be pressed formally to take note, in a separate document, of the existence of the
lease, which was mentioned in Sir E. Grey's Memorandum to the Turkish
Ambassador, dated 24th October 1911.
Clause 10. Lord Crewe trusts that this will not be included except in the
last resort. 1 he natural line of approach for Turkish troops to Nejd does not
lie ac ross the area covered by the agreement; and in spite of the safeguards
t uit ha\c been inserted this concession may be a source of much difficulty
hereafter.
Subject to the above remarks His Lordship concurs in the terms of the
draft.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Tour most obedient servant, )
T. W. H oldebness. •
The Under-Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.