File 10/12 Desert news: defeat of Ikhwan by Ibn Sa`ud (Battle of Sibilla, 1929); operations against rebels [‎89r] (184/382)

2^2 February 1 929 froa P„A1£, Kuwait, to
1-Jabir ae-Subah, O.I.E., Ruler of Kuwait.
After compliments*
.vith reference to our several conversations on the sub
ject of the closing of the road between Kuwait and Zubalr by
the Mutasarrif of Basrah on the grounds that if he declared
it open he would be responsible for the security of that part
of it which lies within the frontiers of 'Iraq*
As Y*E 0 is aware, I telegraphed to the Administrative
Inspector, Basrah, to the effect that Y*E* is ready to ^ive
an undertaking in writing that you will not hold the Mutas&r-
rif of Basrah in any way responsible for the lives and pro
perty of Kuwait subjects even in 'Iraq territory if he will
allow them to use the road - provided that he close it again
if and when Y 0 E„ convey the request through me that this may
be done* I told him that Your Excellency's suggestion is that
the road be re-opened for Kuwait subjects only, and that, for
as long as the Mutasarrif considers it desirable, no one else
be allowed to travel on it in either direction without the
permission of the permission of the representative of the
ceived a reply from the Administrative Inspector, Basrah, in
which he says that the 'Iraq. Governmeat accepts Y.E.'s offer
as far as It concerns the re-opening of the road for Kuwait
subjects. He asks however whether Y.E. will accept respons
ibility of other nationalities using the wwi Kuwait portion
of the road, and says that he assumes Y.S. will accept the
responsibility for the safety of the mall in Kuwait territory
whenever it is allowed to leave, and I shall be grateful If
Y.E, will kindly let me know what reply you wish me to give
country *f which he is a subject*
I now* have the honour to inform you/ that I have re
to these two points*
I venture to give Y.E. my own opinion of the question
below, which may be of some
assistance to Y.E. in coming to
a decision*
As regards his first
accept responsibility for
tards his first question, namely whether Y.E. will
ponslblllty for the safety of other nationalities