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'File 36/3 Lease of Bander Shweikh' [‎81r] (161/556)

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The record is made up of 1 file (277 folios). It was created in 26 Apr 1905-24 Aug 1923. 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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r/f.
sc?
No. 1841^ dated Bushire, the 25th August (received 2nd September) 1907.
From—J. H. H. BILL, Esq., I.C.S., First Assistant Resident, in charge current
duties,
To—S ir Louis Dane, K.C.IE., C S.I, Secretary to the Government of India in
the Foreign Department.
In amplification of this office telegram No. 515, dated 23rd August 1907, I
have the honour to forward herewith, for the information of the Government of
No. 457. dated *>,h Ao S o« , 9 o;. Indi ?’ a , c , 0 Py of the ter marginally noted,
received from 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. , Koweit,
on the subject of the lease of the foreshore of Bunder Shweikh and its environs.
No. 457, dated Koweit, the 21st August 1907 (Confidential).
Prom—M ajor S. G. Knox, I.A., 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— J. H. H. Bill, Esq., C.S . First Assistant to the Resident and His Britannic
Majesty s Consul-Geneial in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. (in charge current duties).
I have the honour to forward herewith, in duplicate, copies, with translations,
of the proposed draft agreement by Sheikh Mubarak to lease to the British
Government the land to the south of the Bunder Shweikh and of the draft
agreement by myself accepting the conditions on behalf of the British Govern
ment.
2. It is unfortunate that Sheikh Mubarak should hesitate to sign the agree
ment in question without receiving a duly authorised acceptance in form from
myself but to press the point too firmly would only excite greater suspicion and
might imperil the success of the negotiations.
3. I have been solemnly assured by Sheikh Mubarak that he will affix his
signature, witnessed by his son, Sheikh Jabir, to the document, as soon as I am
ready to give him a document duly signed by myself accepting the conditions to
which he has agreed.
4. It will be impossible for him to plead ignorance of the agreement, as it
has been prepared finally by his own confidential secretary and, in the preliminary
stages was read over letter by letter and discussed most carefully between us.
The Arabic draft remains, of course, in my personal custody. I trust that the
notes appended by me to the translation together with the quasi-telegraphic
despatch sent by me in haste to you last mail will show fully the course the
negotiations have taken.
5. With regard to the form of the accepting agreement, I venture to hope
that it will be allowed to stand in the main, though verbal alterations here and
there can be inserted, as Sheikh Mubarak has not yet been told what form this
letter will take. It would, I think, allay a good deal of suspicion, if I am
authorised, on the part of Government, to give some assurance that it is not the
wish of Government to interfere in Koweit except for the laudable, harmless
motives, mentioned in the accepting agreement and that the Government wishes
to see the Sheikh of Koweit powerful, independent and beholden to nobody.
6. I shall make one more effort to obtain in writing from Sheikh Mubarak
the assurance made verbally and detailed in paragraph 3 above. If, however, l
fail I would recommend that I may be authorised to accept in the form indicated
and I would urge that it is extremely important that there should be as little
delay as possible in what, I venture to hope, may be the final stage of the negoti
ations.
7. A more formal acceptance, signed either by the Resident or higher
authority, as the wisdom of Government may direct, might follow in due course,
if it should be considered advisable.
A
8. I think I may safely say that, while Sheikh Mubarak hesitates to com
mit himself, he and his son, Sheikh Jabir, are both delighted at the course events
have taken, less I believe on account of the actual profit to them over the deal,
C380FD

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Content

The file includes letters (drafts, originals, and copies), telegrams, and notes relating to secret negotiations over the lease of Bander Shweikh [Ash Shuwaykh] from the Shaikh of Kuwait. The correspondence is mostly between 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, 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. (or his assistant) in Bushire, and the Foreign Department of the Government of India, but also includes communications from the Ambassador in Constantinople, Admiralty, 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. , Senior Naval Officer in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. , Marine Department of the Government of India, Foreign Office, Shaikh Mobarek of Kuwait [Mubārak bin Ṣabāḥ Āl Ṣabāḥ], and Shaikh Ahmad al-Jabir [Aḥmad al-Jābir Āl Ṣabāḥ]. Following the First World War 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. communicated with the Civil (later High) Commissioner in Iraq rather than the Government of India.

The papers cover the following matters:

The file includes the following documents:

  • Captain Heming's report on the position and requirements for the proposed plot (folios 3-6)
  • the final agreement, signed in October 1907, in English and Arabic (folios 118-36)
  • a sketch plan of the Bander Shweikh foreshore (folio 185)
Extent and format
1 file (277 folios)
Arrangement

The file is arranged in chronological order, from the front of the file to the back.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 278; 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. An additional foliation sequence is present in parallel between ff 3-218; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

A previous foliation sequence, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out.

Written in
English and Arabic in Latin and Arabic script
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'File 36/3 Lease of Bander Shweikh' [‎81r] (161/556), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/92, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100040026588.0x0000a2> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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