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'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎113r] (243/455)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (222 folios). It was created in 4 Apr 1938-19 Sep 1938. It was written in English and Arabic. 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. .

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6.
without this advice to the shaikh, in popular opinion His
Majesty's Government might well have been supposed to have
supported the shaikh - tacitly if not actually and the
victory over the latter would have been hailed as one over
our
His Majesty^ Government, As it is without/in any way
offer\ing encouragement to the popular party, they are
well disposed to us, while the coup d^tat, which is what
the movement amounts to, has taken place - as de Gaury
points out in one of his reports - without w the firing
of a shot or the sending of a telegram 11 . The absence of
telegrams is as gratifying perhaps as that of rifle shots.
One can imagine circumstances in which the Council in the
course of their struggle with the Shaikh might have bom
barded the neighbouring Arab States - especially Iraq -
with appeals for help. Iraq at least would undoubtedly
have been only too glad for an excuse to meddle in Kuwait
affairs. In this connection de Gaury informs me that the
present Mutasarrif of Basra is especially active in
openly advocating Iraq interference in Kuwait - *which is
really a province of Iraq 11 .
10. With regard to the future. It is of course
much too early to lay dmn definitely what our policy
should now be in Kuwait, but generally speaking, we should
I think, try and maintain a measure of balance between
the Shaikh and the Council. Towards the latter we should
endeavour to retain their present confidence, so that they
turn to us naturally for unofficial advice, while making
it clear that we still consider the Shaikh the Ruler, and
officially responsible for Kuwaiti relations with His
Majesty's Government.
11.
I have no doubt that, though the Council at
present/

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Content

The volume contains correspondence relating to the formation of a Legislative Council in Kuwait following unrest among its people and criticism of its government in the Iraqi press. Included are newspaper articles, a list of the names of those elected to the Legislative Council of Kuwait (folio 75) and a list of demands made by the Council (folio 76). The main correspondents include: Gerald De Gaury, 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. at Kuwait; Trenchard 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. at Bushire; Lawrence Dundas, Secretary of State for India; the Foreign Office in London; Maurice Peterson, British Ambassador in Iraq; Air Officer Commanding for British Forces in Iraq; Sheikh Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah [Āl Ṣabāḥ, Shaikh Aḥmad al-Jābir], ruler of Kuwait; and other Government of India officials.

The correspondence includes:

  • Abdication discussions about Sheikh Ahmad of Kuwait;
  • Overview of the administration and control of justice, education, medical services, municipalities and desert land (folios 83-99);
  • Appointment of a British customs officer in Kuwait;
  • Opposition of the Persian population of Kuwait to the Legislative Council.

There are internal office notes at the back of the volume (folios 207-214), written by officials of the British Political Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. at Bushire.

Extent and format
1 volume (222 folios)
Arrangement

The volume is arranged chronologically. At the beginning (folio 1C) is a subject index, arranged alphabetically. The numbers refer to folio numbers.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: The foliation sequence commences at the first folio and terminates at the last folio. The folio numbers are written in pencil in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. of each folio. Circled index numbers in red crayon can also be found throughout the volume. There are the following irregularities: 1, 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D; 30 and 30A. Folio 200 is omitted.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 45/23 I (D 140) Kuwait Reforms' [‎113r] (243/455), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/1/468, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023666189.0x00002b> [accessed 20 April 2024]

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