'Relations between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Sheikh of Koweit' [4v] (8/20)
The record is made up of 1 file (10 folios). It was created in 1934. It was written in English. The original is part of the 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. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
8
scrupulously and faithfully observe the conditions of the said bond,' 1 under which
the Sheikh had pledged himself, his heirs and successors, not to receive the agent
or representative of any Power or Government at Koweit without the previous
sanction of the British Government, and not to cede, sell, lease or mortgage, or
give for occupation or for any other purpose, any portion of his territory to the
Government or subjects of any other Power without the previous consent of His
Majesty's Government.
2. By article 9 of the Secret Agreement of the 15th October, 1907, for the
lease of the Bunder Shweikh foreshore, 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.
intimated that he
was " duly authorised on behalf of the precious Imperial English Government to
promise, and do hereby promise, that the town of Koweit and its boundaries
likewise belong to Sheikh Mobarak-us-Suba, Ruler of Koweit, and to his heirs
after him, and that all Sheikh Mobarak's arrangements in the matter of
customs, &c., and all his arrangements at the present day shall remain in the
hands of Sheikh Mobarak-us-Suba, Ruler of Koweit, and of his heirs after him,
and . . . In consideration of this promise the Sheikh undertook not to levy
customs dues in excess of 4 per cent, on goods imported or exported by " the
subjects of the aforesaid English Government," save with the approval of that
Government.
3. The undertakings given in writing to the Sheikh on the 3rd November,
1914, in return for his co-operation against the Turks, contained an assurance
that " Koweit shall be recognised as an independent principality under British
protection."
(B)- Construction of the Undertakings given to the Sheikh.
4. As will be seen, the engagements entered into by His Majesty's Govern
ment with the Sheikh are in rather general terms, and it is perhaps desirable
briefly to record the construction placed upon them at various times by His
Majesty's Government.
5. In 1901, when there was a Turkish threat to Koweit, the Viceroy was
informed (Secretary of State's telegram No. 45 of the 4th December, 1901) that
this "appears to constitute a distinct violation of the Sultan's promise" (to
respect the status quo), " and in these circumstances His Majesty's Government
are prepared to support the Sheikh, and will not tolerate an attack by Turkish
troops or ships upon Koweit. The Sheikh should not leave Koweit, and should
continue to observe his engagement with us." The assurance given is clearly
limited by the words " in these circumstances " to this particular case. More
over, it is not conditional on, and is independent of the Sheikh's observance of
his agreement of 1899.
6. On the 21st March, 1902, Lord Lansdowne, then Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, in a memorandum on the situation in Koweit, remarked that our
obligations toward the Sheikh were " as ill-defined as the boundaries of his
principality. We have distinctly announced that he does not enjoy British
' protection '; on the other hand, we once made him a present of £1,000. and
promised him our ' good offices,' whatever that may mean. When we made this
promise we were, I feel no doubt, thinking of Koweit proper, if there is such a
thing, and not of Boobyan or other outskirts over which the Sheikh has rights
of one sort or another We might, it seems to me, explain (1) to the
Porte; (2) to the Sheikh; and (3) to the foreign Powers immediately interested
the objects of our policy. I should be inclined to say that our engagements to
Koweit do not extend beyond the district adjoining or close to the bay of that
name, and to endeavour to obtain the adhesion of the Porte and of the Sheikh
to our approximate definition of that district "
7. Later, in 1902, it was reported that Ibn Rashid was making energetic
preparation for attacking Ibn Saud, then the Sheikh of Koweit's friend, and the
Sheikh was warned not to take any action likely to bring him into difficulties
with either Nejd or Turkey. About the same time the Sheikh informed us that
Ibn Saud had with him a gun presented by the Turks, and asked for a gift of
two or three guns, which it was understood were wanted for Jehara to protect
Koweit against land attack. The Viceroy (telegram No. 39 of the 3rd October,
1902) proposed to reply that the Sheikh 1 s request could not be granted, "but
that, provided he complied with the injunction conveyed to him in pursuance of
your telegram of the 4th December. 1901 (see paragraph 5 above). His Majesty's
About this item
- Content
This secret memorandum, printed by the Foreign Office, contains a record of a meeting held at the Foreign Office on 5 October 1933 to discuss relations between Great Britain and the Sheikh of Koweit [Kuwait], Aḥmad bin Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ, particularly in regards to Ibn Saud [‘Abd al-‘Aziz bin ‘Abd al-Raḥmān Āl Sa‘ūd]. The following were present at the meeting: Mr George William Rendel (Chair), Eastern Department of the Foreign Office; Mr K R Johnston, Foreign Office; Sir Andrew Ryan, His Majesty's Minister at Jeddah; Lieutenant-Colonel Trenchard Craven William Fowle, 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 Mr John Gilbert Laithwaite, 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. .
The memorandum also includes three appendices:
- 'Appendix A. Note by Sir Andrew Ryan. Ibn Saud's attitude towards Kowait', dated 16 August 1933 (folios 3v-4r);
- 'Appendix B. Provisional Note. Obligations of His Majesty's Government towards the Sheikh of Koweit', 11 October 1933, by Sir John Gilbert Laithwaite (folios 4-6), which includes sections entitled 'A. Nature of the undertakings given', 'B. Constitution of the undertakings given to the Sheikh', and 'Conclusion', with references to various correspondence in the right hand margin;
- 'Appendix C. Supplementary Note. Question of Liability for the Protection of Koweit against Aggression from Outside. 1928-1929', by Sir John Gilbert Laithwaite, dated 6 February, 1934 (folio 6).
There are also a number of enclosures which include correspondence between folios 6 and 10.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (10 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the front cover, and terminates at the inside back cover; 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.
Pagination: The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
Use and share this item
- Share this item
'Relations between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Sheikh of Koweit' [4v] (8/20), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B431, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023493289.0x000009> [accessed 17 April 2024]
https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023493289.0x000009
Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.
<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023493289.0x000009">'Relations between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Sheikh of Koweit' [‎4v] (8/20)</a> <a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100023493289.0x000009"> <img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000031/IOR_L_PS_18_B431_0008.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" /> </a>
This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000833.0x000031/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images
Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- IOR/L/PS/18/B431
- Title
- 'Relations between His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Sheikh of Koweit'
- Pages
- 1r:10v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence