'Historical Summary of Events in the Persian Gulf Shaikhdoms and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, 1928-1953' [‎58v] (121/222)

104
160 At the end of 1953 there were about 2,000 Pakistanis resident in Kuwait
territory. Only a few do business in Kuwait but a substantial number are empbyed,
mostly as artisans, by the Kuwait Oil Company and on work m August
oil company's Pakistanis were involved m a strike which to p
1948 and those employed by the Kuwait Government in the town in one which
took place in December 1953 (paragraph 157 above). On the latter occasion the
strikers refused to accept the mediation of the Pakistani Vice-Consul Basra who
was on a visit to Kuwait at the time.
(g) The Lebanon and Syria
161. There is close association between Kuwait and these two countries.
Kuwait is supplied with fruit from them and many Kuwaitis including some o e
leading Shaikhs spend summer holidays in them. In 1948 an inlormal arrangemen
was made direct between Kuwait and the Lebanon whereby Kuwaitis visiting the
latter country by car would be given visas on arrival.(" ) In 1952 another mtormai
arrangement was arrived at by Kuwait with the Lebanon and Syria lor the mutua.
abolition of visa requirements. Her Majesty's Government were not consulted and
Her Majesty's Ambassadors at Beirut and Damascus were asked to intorm the
Governments to which thev were accredited that Her Majesty's Government had
agreed on behalf of the Ruler of Kuwait that Lebanese and Syrian nationals should
not require visas to enter Kuwait and to request confirmation of the fact that in
addition to abolishing visa fees for Kuwaitis the Lebanese and Syrian Governments
had waived the requirement that Kuwaitis should obtain visas in order to enter
their countries.( 364 ) No official confirmation of this had been obtained by the end of
1953, and it was reported so far as the Lebanon was concerned that Kuwaitis
wishing to enter the country had to obtain visas but were always able to obtain them
free of charge at the frontier or airport subject to the usual security checks^™ 5 ) At
the end of 1953 the Lebanese Government expressed a desire to open a Lebanese
Consulate in Kuwait.( 366 ) The Ruler said he left the matter entirely in the hands of
Her Majesty's Government and the request was refused.
162. The trouble created by the unauthorised use of the Kuwait airfield by
the Lebanese Middle East Airlines in 1950 and 1951 is narrated elsewhere
(paragraph 183 below). Reports received from time to time that the Kuwait
Government had agreed to grant financial assistance to the Syrian Government
have not been confirmed.
(h) United States of America
163. In 1948 the United States Embassy in London enquired whether His
Majesty's Government would be agreeable to the establishment of a United States
Consulate at Kuwait. A reply was sent suggesting that the United States Consul
at Basra should perform Consular functions in Kuwait on an informal basis and
without exequatur^ 307 ) The American Embassy returned to the charge a year later
and said that their Consul at Basra had been endeavouring to perform consular
service for the large American community at Kuwait, but the arrangement was
inherently incapable of working satisfactorily. His Majesty's Government resisted
the proposal as long as possible and stipulated certain conditions the acceptance of
which they regarded as essential before it could be agreed to. The Ruler when
approached on the subject of the presence of foreign Consuls in Kuwait generally
deprecated the proposal but made it clear that he would not object strongly to the
presence of an American Consul.( 36K )
164. In 1951 the United States Government accepted the conditions which
had been proposed by His Majesty's Government and their proposal to appoint
a Consul at Kuwait was accepted. The conditions referred to were as follows; —
" (i) The exequatur will be issued by the King.
(ii) The Consul will have no right of direct access to the Shaikh.
P 63 ) C.R.O. to F.O. Ext. 198 of January 27, 1948 (E 1272/224/91 of 1948)
( ;!64 ) F.O. to Beirut. Despatch 76, of May 26, 1953 (EA 1622/7 of 1953)
( 365 ) Beirut to F.O. 16216/43/53 of December 16, 1953 (EA 1622/18 of 1953)
( 366 ) Beirut to F.O. Despatch 194 of December 21, 1953 (EA 1901/10 of 195^
( 367 ) E 4221/3179/91 of April 15, 1948. ) -
(•■ ,68 ) Tel. from P.R. to F.O. 120 a of March 25, 1950 (EA 1903/6 of 1950).