المجموعة ٨٢/٣٠ "رسوم الاستيراد التي فرضها شيخ الكويت على البضائع القادمة عبر البحر." [و‎‎٦] (١٢٤/١٣)

Translation of letter N 0 . E/6/1740, dated 4th May,
1942, from His Highness the Euler of Kuwait to Major T*. Hickin-
hotham, , Political Agent, Kuwait* f
i a
: ^
Eeference to our discussion of 30th Aprils 1!942, I
wish to inform Your Excellency that as my country needs some
improvements and owing to the modern urgent necessities, I
decided to increase the Customs Duty charged on hoth the import
and export to and from Kuwait, from Ff to as from 25th
November, 1941. The real reason for this increase of duty
is to use the extra charge for the betterment of Health and
Educational Institutions,
This simple duty is enforced equally on all merchants
exporting and importing, both those reside in Kuwait and those
living abroad and have trade communication with Kuwait, except
some private goods imported by some prominent Britishers living
in this country.
I am very glad to inform Your Excellency that Health
and Educational Institutions are offering their services free
to all people residing in Kuwait, whatever their nationality
may be. It is therefore, necessary that foreign merchants
should not receive a special treatment which will distinguish
them from Kuwaitis and which will mean ineauity in respect of
the public. I am ouite certain that His Majesty’s Government
will agree to this and will not ask any exemption to her sub
jects from this rule, in order to protect her friend’s rights,
especially as we witness how she encourages and helps the
charity schemes whenever she gets the chance to do so.
I hope that Your Excellency will communicate with
the authorities concerned informing them the real reason for
the increase of duty and I believe that this step will meet
with the approval of His Majesty’s Government and the Hon’ble
the Political E e sident and Your Excellency^ as well.