the southern anchorage. The Sheikh has always urged his claims tothis island, and during the Viceroy's visit to Kuwait he repeatedlyasked why the Turks were not compelled to evacuate both Babiyan andUm Kasr which belonged to him. He has several boats, and could easilywith small support from us prevent Turkish troops from crossing theKhor Subbiyeh or channel between Bubiyan and the mainland on the west.Should His Majesty's Government deem it advisable to spare the Sultan'ssusceptibilities by the adoption of a less pronounced course of action,we think it possible that our object might be secured by intimating that weregard Bubiyan Island as belonging to the Sheikh, and that, unless the Turkishforce is withdrawn, we shall be constrained to support him in establishinga post on the northern shore to balance the Turkish posts at Um Kasr andAl Geit. In this case the Turks would probably retire, and the island wouldremain unoccupied. The Sheikh would then resume possession, and it would onlyremain for us to carry out hereafter such further measures as might benecessary for the maintenance of our legitimate interests.
