Coll 30/158A 'Koweit: Administration and Finances. Financial Adviser for Koweit'

Content

The file concerns the administration and finances of the state of Koweit [Kuwait], and in particular the proposed appointment of a British Financial Adviser to the Shaikh of Kuwait [Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ], a role similar to that of Charles Dalrymple Belgrave in Bahrain. This was against the background of the increasing revenues of Kuwait, derived from the country's burgeoning oil industry. A Foreign Office letter of March 1948 expressed concern that Kuwait and Bahrain, which were relatively two of the more important of the Gulf shaikhdoms, did not appear to have realised that 'the increasing strategic and economic importance of their states' demanded an improvement in their present standard of administration in order to carry out a programme of administrative and social reform, and so avoid political agitation and economic unrest in the future (folio 6).

The papers include correspondence on the subject from the Political Resident A senior ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul General) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Residency. in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , and the Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. , Kuwait; statements of account of the Kuwait Revenue Department, 1945-47 (folios 41-44); papers concerning the management of Kuwait's finances; and discussion of the names of possible candidates from the Indian Political Service The branch of the British Government of India with responsibility for managing political relations between British-ruled India and its surrounding states, and by extension the Gulf, during the period 1937-47. to fill the position of Financial Adviser.

The file includes a divider, which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the file by year. This is placed at the back of the correspondence.

Extent and format

1 file (72 folios)

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the file.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 74; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/L/PS/12/3894B

Former external reference(s)

Coll 30/158A

History of this record

Date(s)

7 Jul 1946-5 Apr 1948 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

OilFinancial administration

People & organisations

Emir of Kuwait

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Coll 30/158A 'Koweit: Administration and Finances. Financial Adviser for Koweit', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/3894B, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100000000648.0x0001cf> [accessed 24 April 2024]

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