"الملف 73/7 III (D 24) وضع الكويت، والمفاوضات الأنجلو-التركية" [و‎‎٢‎٤‎٥] (٧٠٩/٥٠١)

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whether this particular Convention used the word " successor " or some other
cognate expression, as the question was one which rested between himself and
us alone. Without the Arabic text it was difficult to say more on this point
than what I have recorded above ; bat it is referred to in the Shaikh's letter to
me and my reply.* It will be found that
•En losuresa and 4. j n t h e Shwaikh Agreement the word u sons "
(aolad) was not used as the Shaikh thought, but the word " heirs" (warasah),
and that we managed to fence with the
vide correspondence endin? with Foreign dynastic issue then raised by the Shaikh.
Ma^chT908. lettCr No I054 ' E • B ■ , dated ,6th My written reply to the latter (enclosure 4)
leaves the question in the same position
as did the Shwaikh Agreement, and I shall be glad to know what further, if
anything, His Majesty's Government would wish me to say to him. It might be
worth while, if Shaikh Mobarak himself wishes it, that we should offer to
recognise his successor—presumably his son and deputy Shaikh Jabr—in his
life time. This would probably set his mind at rest completely as regards his
own succession and lead him to forget or drop all further efforts to secure a
permanent dynastic guarantee. I solicit telegraphic orders on this point.
(iii). The Customs clause, at which he at once called a halt, brought us on
to somewhat delicate ground, but it seemed to me that the best line to take was
that the Article discussed contingencies which might never take shape, so that
in any case it seemed premature to come to issue over them now. We went on
to explain that if the railway did eventually come to Kuwait, it would obviously
be unreasonable for him to expect to receive the duty, or all the duty, on through
cargo, and that in any case a preliminary discussion and arrangement would have
to be arrived at between the Porte and ourselves, acting in his behalf, for regulat
ing the distribution of the duties on through export or import cargo at Kuwait in
a manner Lo iurkey. In regard to local cargo his rights
w DU j < h--or , 'course have to be specifically separated or safeguarded. I expressed
the personal view that this was an instance in \\hich our interests and his would
be the same and that it would be our business to see that he was fairly treated.
Shaikh Khazal gave useful help in getting Mobarak to view this question in a
sensible light.
10. We now come to his main objection, the clause requiring him to receive
a Turkish 11 Commissaire " or Agent in Kuwait.
Here, to begin with. Shaikh Mobarak was bluntly uncompromising, saying
that it was one of the specific and chief features^t~ing^agreements with us that
he should refuse to receive the agent of any Foreign Power, incTuding Turkey,
and that the admission of any representative on the part of the Turkish Govern
ment in Kuwait was the one thing that he had been always determined to resist
a foutrance and had up to now succeeded in withstanding.
Then followed a long discussion in which the case of Egypt and the
argument that the appointment was a useful indication and necessary result of
the recognition of his administrative autonomy were made the most of. Eventually
he agreed, provided that I would confirm the purport of their message in writing,
to bow to the will and advice of Kis Majesty's Government, relying on their
assurance of the identity of our interests and on the enjoyment of their
efficacious support in case of need against the activities and intrigues on the
part of the Turkish Agent which he instinctively apprehended, and which he
feared would prove no less a woiry to ourselves than to him 1 was^not specially
authorised to give him the purport of the Secretary of States s telegram in
writing ; but I do not think I should have got his assurance in writing without it,
and my refusal to give it would have aroused undesirable suspicion of our good
faith in his mind.
11. We separated a few minutes later and he subsequently sent me the
letter of acceptance of which I attach a
Enclosure 3. translation. The first portion is based on
lines suggested to him by myself, the remainder, from the words ' I would only
represent " onwards, is not meant by him to detract from his acceptance ; but
merely reminds us of the three questions of Succession. Customs, and Admis
sion of European foreigners to Kuwait in connection with which he either