File 2182/1913 Pt 8 'Arabia – Policy towards Bin Saud' [‎273v] (131/602)

130
Saad at Hizani passed through Koweit, see my 806, June 19th. Other
names not known.
Translation of letter from 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. , Koweit, to His Excellency Shaikh Salim al
Mubarak es Sabah, No. 220, dated the 31st July 1018 = 22nd Shawwal 1336.
With reference to my letter of July 5th 19l8 = Hamadhan 24tli 1336, 1
write to inform Your Excellency of the plan which I propose for the issue of
permits for the export of goods from India to Koweit so that trade may be
carried on without hindrance.
Firstly, as regards the supplies for Koweit and its tribes. The Assistant
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. has discussed this matter in full with your son Abdulla
and the Mudir of Customs and they have agreed that the following quantities
of goods are required for the needs of Koweit and its tribes in every month:—
Rice
• ••
... 10,000 bags
Hour
• • •
... 100 „
Sugar
• • •
1,000 „
Coffee
•••
700 „
Tea
• • •
... 250 cases
Pepper
• ••
... 40 bags
and that the Assistant 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. will issue passes up to this amount
every month on receiving a letter from Your Excellency informing him how
you wish the amount to be distributed.
Secondly, as regards the goods required for other legitimates t/rade, such
as for supplying the caravans of the friend of all His Excellency Shaikh Abdul
Aziz bin Abdur Rahman bin Eaisal as Saud or of other friends of the High
Government and for shipment to Basrah and elsewhere. In the case of
caravans from the people of Najd Abdulla al Nafisi will be surety for the
amount taken by the caravans and on receiving his bond the Assistant Political
Agent will issue passes up to that amount. Similarly tribes from the territory
under the High Government must produce passes from the Political Officers
in whose charge tl ey are before they are allowed to take supplies and when
such a pass is received the Assistant 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. will issue passes up to
the amount of goods taken away. When goods are taken away by sea the
Mudir of Customs will receive a recei pt from the Customs at Basrah or the
Customs officials or the British representative at the port to which the goods
are taken and when he gives the receipt to the Assistant 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. the
latter will issue passes up to that amount.
When a merchant has exported goods in the above manner and the Assist
ant 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. wishes to issue passes for the export of more goods from
India he will first ask the merchant if he wishes to replace his stock and if not
will write and ask Your Excellency to what merchant or merchants the passes
should be given.
If a merchant who has not exported any goods wishes to bring goods from
India for sale to caravans or for export to Basrah or elsewhere he should make
a request to the Assistant 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. through Your Excellency and must
give a bond to the value of the goods that he will produce the receipt from
Abdulla al Nafisi or the officials at the port to which he sends the goods
otherwise his bond will be executed upon him.
In this way there will be no hardship for legitimate trade and the control
of all the trade wdll be in the hands of Your Excellency as Ruler of the
country.
Until the goods which were bought by the High Government are exhausted,
as far as possible, merchants will be given passes to take the amounts they
require from those goods.
-MMirar