Skip to item: of 656
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [‎175r] (11/154)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 76 folios. It was created in 30 Jun 1904-22 Mar 1907. 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. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

9?'
.Tim Doeiiment is the Property of His Britannic Majesty’s Govermnont]
ASIATIC TUEKEY.
CONFIDENTIAL.
f r mSi
$s- E! y
18 mar iso/:
No'.l.
[February 26.]
Section 1,
(No. 105 ) SirN ' 0 ’ Con0r t0 S{r Edward Grey.—(Received February 26.)
]’.IHAVE the honour to acknowledge the Ae
India, S re^peeting”§e 1 KOTreit^kg! 1 ' W ‘ th itS incloSures - from the Secretar y °f State for
• .is-~s cJ '" ,,n
After mature consideration His Majesty’s Government enfprprl intn o or tQr.‘ i
agreement wrth the Sheikh of Koweit, whfch, on the one hand! imposed cert!?,
restrictions upon him, while, on the other, it implied more or less a miarantee f'
protection and the integrity of his territory. This agreement is decidedly of importLce
as regards our future negotiations respecting the debouched the Bagdad Railway It
is not forma ly or officially acknowledged by the Ottoman GofeXent yel ft has
weight with them, and would influence their course of action under certain rircum
stances. It is moreover, a difficulty in the way of the Germans which I think has'
already accounted m some degree for their desire to come to an understanding with us
m regard to the Bagdad Railway. Any exhibition of weakness on the part of ffis/
Majesty s Government or of a desire to shirk the consequences of our agreement with/
Kowe.t, would materially aftect our position, which is a political factor in the situation
which, I venture to think, His Majesty s Government ought not lightly to ignore
As regards the question as to whether the Sheikh of Koweit should be pressed to
keep his promise of flying a distinctive flag on Koweit craft, I am inclined to share the
opinion of the 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. m the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. to the effect that we should use
great care m the matter, and choose a propitious opportunity for making the suggestion
the more so as, should His Highness act as we urge him to do, I do not see how we can
honourably or with credit refuse him protection, and we may unnecessarily have raised
a very troublesome question.
We bave already marked our connection with Ivoweit by the appointment of a
resident, and, I believe, by the establishment of a British post office, as well as sundrv
other ways. J
I would suggest that the Sheikh should at first fly the new flag in his Konak, or
other Government buildings at Koweit, where we should have no difficulty in affording
him protection _ if the Turkish Government attempted, which is very unlikely, to
interfere with his action. The Imperial Government will thus get accustomed to ’the
change, and the way will be prepared for its adoption by degrees on the high seas.
I have, &c.
(Signed) N. R. O’CONOR.
[2361 cc—1]

About this item

Content

The papers concern the proposal that vessels from Koweit [Kuwait] should adopt a distinctive flag, and the likely reaction this would bring from the Government of Turkey [the Ottoman Empire].

The principal correspondents are the 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. (Major Percy Zachariah Cox); 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. , Kuwait (Captain Stuart George Knox); the British Ambassador at Constantinople (Sir Nicholas Roderick O'Conor); and senior officials of Government of India.

The papers cover: correspondence concerning the question of the protection that the British Government should give to subjects of Kuwait in Persian territory, June-December 1904 (folios 220-246); a report that the Ambassador at Constantinople saw no objection to the adoption by the Shaikh of Kuwait [Mubārak bin Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ] of a distinctive flag for Kuwait vessels, while retaining his existing flag for use in Kuwait, February-March 1905 (folios 217-219); correspondence concerning the proposed use by the Shaikh of Kuwait of the Turkish flag with the addition of the word 'Koweit' written across it in Arabic letters (including colour drawings of the proposed flag, folios 199-203), and specimen shipping certificate, July 1905 - July 1906 (folios 190-216); and correspondence concerning the Shaikh of Kuwait's concerns over the likely consequences of his adoption of the new flag, particularly his fears of 'oppressive measures' from Turkish officials at Basrah [Basra] and other Turkish ports, August 1906 - March 1907 (folios 176-188).

The Arabic language content of the papers is confined to Arabic wording on the specimen shipping certificate and drawings of the proposed Kuwait flag, between folios 192 and 201.

The date range gives the covering dates of all the documents; the date range of the Secret Department minute papers given on the subject divider on folio 171 is 1905-07.

Extent and format
76 folios
Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [‎175r] (11/154), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/10/50/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100035754161.0x00009d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

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_100035754161.0x00009d">File 1855/1904 Pt 7 'Koweit Flag.' [&lrm;175r] (11/154)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100035754161.0x00009d">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000365.0x000387/IOR_L_PS_10_50_0356.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

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_100000000365.0x000387/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image