"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [و‎‎١‎٥‎١] (٥٤٠/٣٠٧)

Majesty's Consul, Basrah, 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
w Telegram from Consul, Basrah, to Anibassa- 4.^ C f • i i •
dor, No. 2i f daied 25th February 1902. ohcUkn S Cl3.ini to o3tW3.n IS rCCOruSQ in
a letter to the Resident dated 7th Feb
ruary 1902! and he further said to the Senior Naval Officer who interrogated
t Regarding Safwan, the crops of him on the subject, that there were 8 or
train produced there are under my authority and lO families of Sedentary Bin Hanedi and
Bin Tarki there, who had lived there
Before now the Turks or others had not laid their permanently for 40 years. 1 hey paid him
hand on Safwan. ^ n0 re g U | ar tribute, he said, but supplied
him from time to time with grass and onions as a recognition of their subordina
tion to him.
11. When discussing with me, a month ago, various newspaper reports
suggesting that the Baghdad Railway was likely to find its terminus at
Umm Kasr, under the segis of Turkey, Shaikh Mubarak made it evident that he
felt strongly on the subject of that point and emphatically claimed it as his own
possession. Probably in reality his claim has as much validity as those of the
Turks who, previous to 1901, had never shown any interest in the place. But
His Majesty's Government have decided 10 years ago that they would not
support his claim to this outpost and I presume that they will not alter that
decision now in any case; fortunately the place loses much of its strategical
value if Warba and Bubyan are retained by the Shaikh. In regard to these
islands we have, 1 think, every reason to insist on the Shaikh's rights, both on
their instrinsic merits and as a matter of political expediency.
Major Knox's reports on the rights of the Shaikh and his tribesmen in
regard to them were submitted to Government in 1908—2;^ enclosure to Gov
ernment of India Despatch No. 168 Secret—External, dated 10th September
1908.
12. As regards other islands, I presume His Majesty's Government will be
able to provide for the recognition of the Shaikh's ownership, or at all events his
predominance, in those mentioned by Mr. Lorimer.
13. There remain one or two other points not directly referred to in the
Secretary of State's telegram under reply, to which I would invite reference.
Firstly, 1 presume that the phrase " town, harbour and immediate surroundings"
used in India Office telegram dated 1st July, includes the whole of Kuwait Bay
from Sabiyah to Ras-al-Ardh, together with Jahrah, the possession of which is a
vital necessity to the Shaikh. In this connection I would invite reference to the
Military Report on Kuwait, 1903, by Captain h. marginally noted Military Report, which
h. Lowding, i.b .india, pages 22.23. describes very well the attitude of the
Shaikh to the possession of Jahrah and the importance of its retention in connec
tion with our Kadhamah concession.
14. The conclusion to which the considerations set forth in the foregoing
paragraphs bring me, subject to confirmation or modification, on receiving the
report which 1 await from Captain Shakespear, is-that if it is still possible as
between ourselves and the Turks, to work in a slightly different line to that des
cribed by Mr. Lorimer, it will be both in the interest of the Shaikh and at the
same time more palatable to the Turks, if we can arrange for recognition of the
line (subject to the slight modifications mentioned below) indicated by Captain
Shakespear; which, while conceding a broad strip of territory to Turkey, effec
tively safeguards the Shaikh's rights and influence over his tribes at strategic
points and at the same time has the substantial advantage of affording a well
defined frontier, a consideration which the Shaikh will, I have no doubt, appreciate.
15. The modification which I recommend is that the boundary on the
coast should be arbitrarily held to be at Jabal Manifah and from thence to
proceed south-west to include Anta'a and thence along Captain Shakespear's
boundary via A1 Safah, Hafar and Al Batin as indicated on the accompanying
copy of the most recent map.
In order to save time I have sent a copy of this communication to His
Majesty's India Office.
G. C. B. P., Simla.-No. C 50 F. D.-14-8-/2.—44—C. G. S