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File 339/1905 ‘Koweit: - Political Agency. Expenditure. Steam Launch’ [‎165r] (334/368)

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The record is made up of 1 volume (180 folios). It was created in 1904-1914. 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. .

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1
No. 239, dated Bushire, the 30th July 1904.
From Major P Z. Cox, C.I.E., Officiating 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. ,
To—L. W. Dane, Fsq., C.S.I., Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign De
partment.
In accordance with the telegraphic instructions received under Foreign
Department No. 2317-E A., dated 21st July 1904, I have the honor to submit
proposals for the Establishment 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. at Koweit. I have done
my best to consider economy and, at the same time, to omit nothing needful.
2 . The proposals are embodied in—
(t) The usual proposition statement showing the actual establishment;
(ii) Statement A dealing with initial expenditure ;
{Hi) Statement B dealing with annual recurring expenditure.
3. As regards {ii) and {Hi) such explanations as I have thought it neces
sary to make have been entered in the remarks column of,the two statements A
and B.
With reference to the proposition statement, the establishment has been
drawn up on the lines of the Maskat Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. after the exclusion of
the Treasury establishment at that place.
Higher rates have been proposed for the copyist and munshi A term used in the Middle East, Persia and South Asia to refer to a secretary, assistant or amanuensis. Munshis were employed in the British administration in the Gulf. because, in
consequence of the greater distance from India and more expensive livin° , I it
will be difficult to induce competent men to come and serve.
The pay of the kavas bashi and kavases has been fixed at Basrah rates,
as it has been thought that the conditions of service will approach more closely
those of Basrah than of Maskat.
I he rates for the boat tindal Non-European boatswain or head of a group of labourers. and the khallassies are somewhat cheaper
than those recently applied for for Bahrein, but it is hoped that these cheaper
rates will suffice, as there is not the same competition for labour at Koweit as
at Bahrein. The expense at the latter place is due to the high wages paid for
pearl divers.
The door-keeper will not be required when a guard is provided.
Water-supply is a difficulty at Koweit and for this reason it has been
thought advisable to provide for a bhisti.
4. Passing from the actual proposals submitted, I find that there are one
or two considerable items which it is difficult to handle at the present stage. I
will take these seriatim
{A) House Accommodation,
Now that it has been decided to establish a Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Koweit j
and that a certain amount of gossip has been aroused owing to the arrival of dis
pensary and post office baggage at that port for the postmaster-designate, who is
now in Bushire, it is advisable that the Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. should be opened without delay
in order that time may not be given for obstructive intrigue on the part of the
Turks to take shape.
Under these circumstances it would be necessary, to start with, that
the new 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. should rent a house or get on e lent him by Sheikh
Mubarak.
As soon as he is installed and has gained some local knowledge, he will be
in a position to propose a site for Government quarters and make recommenda
tions as to whether they should be built by local labour under his supervision
or whether the work should be handed to the Public Works Department or a
Government contractor.

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Content

The main contents of the volume are exchanges of letters about government expenditure on the Kuwait Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , primarily between British officials at the Foreign Office, 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. and Treasury in London and Government of India officials at the Foreign Department in Calcutta and Simla. They discuss cost estimates and actual expenditure in relation to the approval of Government of India proposals for the expansion of the cadre of the Indian Political Department in order to fill Consular posts in Persia, 1904-1905 and 1909; the establishment of a new Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. at Kuwait (spelt Koweit), 1904-1907 and the purchase of the steam launch Lewis Pelly , built at the Government Dockyard in Bombay, for the use 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. at Kuwait, 1906-1907, 1909-1912 and 1914. The volume also contains a sea chart of Kuwait Port, by the Marine Survey of India in 1905.

Extent and format
1 volume (180 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the rear to the front of the volume. The subject 339 (Koweit Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. expenditure: steam launch) consists of one volume.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 182; 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.

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English in Latin script
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File 339/1905 ‘Koweit: - Political Agency. Expenditure. Steam Launch’ [‎165r] (334/368), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/69, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100026748530.0x000087> [accessed 28 March 2024]

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