"XXII/١٠ وضع الكويت والمفاوضات مع تركيا." [ظ‎‎١‎٦‎٧] (٤٤٦/٣٣٤)

6
I trust you will inform the British Government that I recognise and admit
the force of your explanations that my interests and those of the British Govern
ment are identical and that there is no difference between them ; and accordingly
it is incumbent on me to rely upon the advice of the Great Government in this
matter; but they will, I am sure, understand that when any doubt enters my
mind and I see in any measure a probable source of difficulty and danger to my
own interests or those of Government, it is proper for me to communicate my
apprehensions for their august views. But in view of your explanations and
letter under reply, I can but bow to their view and authorise Your Honour to say
that I shall rely on the Great Government to support me so long as I am firm
in faithful fulfilment of my engagements with them as in the past ; please God I
shall preserve those obligations and increase my intimate attachment to the
Great Government and shall act up to what is written in our Treaties and even
more than that.
I would only represent to you that among the stipulations in our Treaties
and in the agreement regarding the lease of land at Bandar Shwaikh, my “ sons”
are specified as my successors, while now in the condition as arranged between
the two Governments, the word “ Khalaf ” appears. Now “ Khalaf ” (succes
sors) includes sons Again in our Treaties I am described as not
agreeing to the presence in Kuwait of the subjects of any foreign Government,
especially the Turkish Government.
These are two points in our treaties and further in the documentary agree
ment between yourselves and me in regard to the lease of land at Shweikh, I
stipulated that the right of levying Customs duty on your subjects and others
belonged to me, and on this understanding the agreement was reached, and I
have the deed and you also have a duplicate.
I have explained to you these three points, please give them your high
consideration. And whatever was included in the Treaty was with the concur
rence of both parties and the agreement regarding the lease of land at Shweikh
was also concluded with the concurrence of both parties. I beg to refer this tCL.
Your Honour’s consideration, and attention, and t he decision re sts^ th,.you.
(Sealed) MOBARAK BIN SUBAH.
Enclosure 4.
Translation of letter from the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, to Sir
Mobarak bin Subah, K.C.I.EShaikh of Kuwait.
{No, 30! t dated Mohammerah, the jth July 1913)
After compliments,
I have duly received your esteemed letter, dated 2nd Shaaban 1331 (= 7th
July 1913), and understood its contents. I am highly obliged for your compli
ance with the views of the British Government.
Your Honour drew attention (in the same communication) to certain items
contained in the Treaties and engagements existing between the British Govern
ment and yourself. Your friend has not got the text of them here in Moham
merah, except the translation of the agreement executed between yourself and
Colonel Meade, Resident in the Persian Gulf, on 23rd January 1899. The
purport of that instrument is that Your Honour would not receive an agent from
any foreign Government without previous reference to and the concurrence of the
British Government. In the course of the present negotiation it was necessary
for the British Government to acquiesce in the appointment oi an Agent of the
Turkish Government at Kuwait as the price of the recognition of the adminis
trative autonomy of your Government and in return for the other advantages
accruing to Your Excellency, as set forth in the document in question.