'File 18/68 I (D 114) Kuwait Order in Council' [‎52r] (118/534)

7. It is impossible even to give the number of British subjecis accurately, as
there is a considerable, and fluctuating, number of Somalis and other Africans
under British protection, largely sailors, who never come near the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , except
occasionally when they require the help of 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. . I estimate, how
ever, that there are at present 175 British subjects in the town, made upas follows :
British ,. .. .. .. .. • • 4
British Indians .. .. .. .. .. 22
Arabs with British nationality .. .. .. 21
Egyptian .. .. .. .. .. 1
Somalis and other Africans under British protection, about 100
Total .. .. 175
To these may be added 36 Kuwait subjects and foreigners (including the four
Portuguese subjects mentioned in paragraph 3 above) in the permanent service of
British subjects, who, in practice, always have been looked on as British subjects
while thus employed. About 200 Indians, crews of sailing boats, pilgrims, etc.,
visit Kuwait annually, and, with few exceptions, the steamers which visit the
port are all British ships.
8. I have not included 'Iraqis, regarding whose status I referred in my memo,
randum ^"o. 64-C., dated the 12th April 1921, under any of the above heads. I
presume that they are entitled to British protection, but up to the present no
'Iraqi has applied to me for assistance as such. There is much intercourse between
'Iraq and Kuwait, and the number of 'Iraqis in the town is considerable, but, as
in the case of Najdis, there is little by which one can distinguish them
from the ordinary inhabitants, and it would be useless to attempt to estimate
their number without actually registering them and inquiring into doubtful
cases. The Sheikh of Kuwait would certainly prefer 'Iraq subjects to be under
his own jurisdiction, but I do not think he is likely to prove ^obstinate if
the matter be pressed. Palestine and Syrian subjects, as British and French
protected persons respectively, might conveniently be considered under this
head. Neither are at pressnt sattle 1 or frequently visit Kuwait, and the question
would not greatly interest the Sheikh.
9. I presume from the wording of the draft Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. that there is
no intention of asking the Shaikh of Kuwait to agree to His Majesty's Government
exercising jurisdiction with respect to the subjects of non-Christian powers refer
red to in paragraph 6 above. I am of opinion that to do so would almost certainly
lead to friction with the Shaikh of Kuwait, without proportionately increasing
British trade or prestige and that it would therefore not be in our interests to do
so, unless, or until, any of the Rulers or Governments concerned request us to do
so, or wish to establish Consuls of their own. If I be right in this assumption,
I would suggest that the word " Muslim " might be substituted for " non-Chris
tian " in the definition of a " Kuwait subject" referred to in paragraph 2 above,
and that the Shaikh of Kuwait be definitely asked to agree to the exercise of juris
diction by His Majesty's Government in respect of all " foreigners," which latter
term would then include the classes enumerated in paragraph 3 above, together
with any European, American, Japanese or Chinese steamers which might at any
time visit the port. As, in practice, this would mean little more than recognising
British jurisdiction with respect to the members of the American Mission, I think
he would readilv agree to it as also he would in the case of Kuwait subjects in the
regular service of British subjects of foreigners, on the conditions laid down in sub
section 3 of paragraph 8 of the draft Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council. .
10. As I am certain that, in practice, the Shaikh would not deal with Americans
or the Portuguese subjects (even if he knows that the latter are not British sub
jects) without reference to me, I see no immediate urgency for the Order in Council A regulation issued by the sovereign of the United Kingdom on the advice of the Privy Council.
being passed.