"الملف 73/7 II (D 22) وضع الكويت - سكة حديد بغداد، والمفاوضات الأنجلو تركية" [و‎‎١‎٥‎٦] (٥٤٠/٣١٧)

[This PoGnmcnt is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Govermnent.]
T
ASIATIC TURKEY AND ARABIA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[July 12.]
S ection 3.
[29632] No - 1 -
India Office to Foreign Office.—{Received July 12.)
THE Under-Secretary of State for India presents his compliments to the Under-
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and forwards herewith, for the information of the
Secretary of State, copy of a telegram from the Viceroy, dated the 11th July, 1912^
relative to Koweit and the Bagdad Railway.
India Office, July 12, 1912.
G
f TT
Enclosure in No. 1.
Government of India to the Marquess of Crewe.
(Telegraphic.) P. July 11, 1912.
TELEGRAM, dated the 10th instant, to folio wing effect received from resident,
Persian Gulf:—
" Following is reported by political agent, Koweit:—
" ' A certain Alexander Forage, a Bagdad Christian in Messrs. Wonckhaus's employ
ment, recently approached the Sheikh of Koweit, and, after reverting to request
previously made that European agent should be appointed, referred to the Bagdad
Railway, and asked to whom sheikh considered that Um Kasr (which he said would
probably become terminus) belonged. t
"' Sheikh in reply claimed, on grounds previously advanced, that Um Kasr
belonged to himself; he also said that he should at once take forcible steps to assert his
right, if there was any idea of the place being used without his consent for the important
purpose mentioned. Sheikh claimed that Jabal Sanam, Safwan, Um Kasr, and thence
to the sea were included in his boundary. To this Forage replied that possession of
Um Kasr, Bubiyan, and Safwan could easily be assured to shiekh, if he^would lease
or sell any part of his territory to German railway company, as evacuation of those
places by Turks would soon be arranged by German Emperor, who was much interested
in the matter. Forage went on to say that sheikh would be given his own price for
sale or lease of site on seaboard, which was what railway company wanted. The sheikh
claims that he brought the conversation to an end by remarking that business of Forage
seemed to be not so"much that of a plain merchant desiring to open a trade agency as
that of a diplomatic envoy. , , , , j u ji
" ' Political agent in conclusion expresses the view that sheikh has undoubtedly
been approached more or less openly in interests of Germany, though story may have
been somewhat embellished by him with a view to enhancing his own importance.
" ' In view of the above incident, and of references that have recently appeared m
Arabic newspapers, sheikh is now anxious to be furnished with news, if there is any, as
to developments of railway question. He has repeatedly said that j^e relies on us to
keep him informed on this subject.'
[254'> m—3]