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'File VII/1. Telegraphic Connection to Kuwait.' [‎263v] (556/574)

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The record is made up of 1 file (270 folios). It was created in 13 Aug 1904-7 Feb 1930. It was written in English, Arabic and Hindi. 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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V T
14

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At the outbreak of war in August, 1914, the Company’s lines through Europe
were of course immediately put out of action, and it seemed at first that the
Department would have little work to do. Sir Rayner Barker at once saw
the danger of Russia being cut off from telegraphic communication with her
allies by any of the direct routes to the west, and he realised that the roundabout
route via Bombay, Karachi and Teheran might become of vital importance.
There were already two routes available between Karachi and Teheran, via
Bushire and via the Central Persia line, but a third could be made available via
Mashad and Seistan by completing the link between Seistan and Hurmak. An
agreement was quickly reached with Persia, who authorised the construction
of the line in September, 1914, and it was completed the following month. This
alternative line, of which it will be remembered the section Mashad to Seistan
was worked by the Russians, proved of invaluable service, especially when
enemy activity interrupted the Teheran-Bushire line.
When Turkey entered the war and a campaign in Mesopotamia started it was
clear that the single cable between Fao and Bushire was quite inadequate
to meet telegraphic requirements. Fortunately a sufficient length of suitable
ready-made cable was available in London, and this was purchased and sent
out ; it escaped attack from the enemy’s submarines and was successfully laid
in June, 1916. It was also found impossible to maintain the land line between
Jask and Charbar, owing to the turbulence of the tribes in the interior, and a
short length of cable was laid between these places. Thus the Department
was able to provide two comparatively safe lines which carried the whole
traffic between Mesopotamia, the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ports and Persia on the one hand,
and India, England and all parts of the world on the other. This traffic was
extremely heavy, amounting in 1918-19 to 660,000 messages containing over
seven million words, in addition to a very large number of messages relating to
the sick and wounded which were carried free of charge. The traffic was carried
without any serious breakdown or even undue delay, and the Department is, I
think, justified in claiming to have rendered a very important service to the
campaign in Mesopotamia.
At the end of the war the Indo-European Telegraph Company at once took
action to restore their line through Germany, Poland and Russia. A great deal
of work was entailed in this restoration, but it was successfully accomplished,
and the Indo route was once more established in August, 1923, having been
interrupted exactly 9 years. The Department again resumed the work for
which it mainly exists, the transmission, in conjunction with the Company, of
messages between Great Britain and India and countries beyond. To this is
now added the traffic with Iraq which before the war was transmitted via
Constantinople, the total number of messages dealt with by the Department
in the year ended 31st March last having been just under 400,000.
I cannot conclude this account of the Department without some reference
to the Beam wireless service recently opened with India, which has proved

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Content

The file contains correspondence related to the establishment of a wire connection between Kuwait and the Bushire-Fao cable. The correspondence is mainly about the site where the wireless telegraph station at Kuwait would be, the measurements, and the cost. In 1914 construction started, and in 1916 the wireless station opened at Kuwait. The file also contains correspondence about surveying work taking place around Kuwait, as well as correspondence about the recruitment of a surveyor to undertake the work.

The file includes an introductory booklet (folios 256-269) under the title, ‘The Indo-European Telegraph Department’, written by Maurice G Simpson, Director-in-Chief, Indo-European Telegraph Department, and published in 1928.

The main correspondence is between the following: the Political Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. , Kuwait; the Foreign Department for the Government of India; the British 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. and Consulate General, Bushire; 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. ; the Political Office, Basra; and the Basra Survey Party.

Extent and format
1 file (270 folios)
Arrangement

The papers are arranged in approximate chronological order from the front to the rear of the file.

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 272; 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. Two additional foliation sequences are also present in parallel between ff 1-271 and ff 3-80; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled.

Written in
English, Arabic and Hindi in Latin and Arabic script
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'File VII/1. Telegraphic Connection to Kuwait.' [‎263v] (556/574), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/R/15/5/16, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100041783545.0x00009d> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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